Raising a Child with Autism: 30 Reasons to Smile!

Today my son woke up before 5 a.m. and I’m a bit sleep-deprived. Raising a child with autism can come with a lot of challenges, including stubbornness, meltdowns, and skills deficits. For that reason, as parents, it’s especially important that we take the time to stop and smell the roses. What can we appreciate about life, parenting, and raising a child with autism? This list includes a little of everything, because raising a child with autism means that we get to appreciate a little extra something that other people don’t.

30 Reasons to Smile While Raising a Child With Autism

1. Our kids appreciate the little things we give them more.
2. Warm cookies
3. The sun coming up
4. Hugs from our kids
5. That perfect picture you took of him/her smiling (a rare treat)
6. The sound of a child’s laughter
7. Every day we see improvement
8. Flowers blooming
9. Playfulness
10. Those smile moments of silence
11. Good meals
12. When the right song comes on the radio
13. Hot showers
14. Ice cold drinks
15. Coffee made just right
16. People that understand
17. Good teachers
18. Watching the kids play nicely
19. Their firsts
20. Eating bad food that tastes good
21. Compliments
22. Hanging out with other autism moms
23. Pay day
24. Finally meeting the deductible
25. Good assistive technology
26. Being done with homework
27. Dancing with the kids
28. Birthdays
29. Snuggles
30. Knowing you’re loved by the best kids on earth

Originally posted on EmbracingtheSpectrum.com

What else makes you smile? Leave a comment below!