One Year and a Million Memories & Lessons

It is incredible to believe that we are now a year into learning that Aleks has autism and a year on the GFCF+ diet. I think back to a year ago and it seems hard to imagine my life without autism. I remember a woman telling me that I'd just joined a group that I never asked to join and one that I never would want to, but a wonderful group all the same. How very true that statement is today.

Here are a few things I have learned this past year.

1. No matter what our struggles are as parents, what our children go through is always harder. The difference is that they just don't know a life without autism.

2. You will feel like you are broke $$ from autism more than a few times, yet God finds a way to provide what you need.

3. You will find an inner strength that you never knew you possessed.

4. You will become your child's biggest advocate and that role will be challenged on a regular basis.

5. You will learn to celebrate the small victories because you know that they really aren't small at all.

6. Your marriage will feel the strains of having a child with a disability but you will also see unexpected growth.

7. You will feel an instant connection to other parents of children with autism.

8. You will be able to name your child's food allergies and identify them in any food/any ingredient within seconds.

9. You will be able to identify autism in other children within a few seconds.

10. You will realize just how hard special education teachers and therapists work and what special people they are. They will also become part of your family.


My thanks for all of the support we have received this past year. I wouldn't trade going back a year for anything and I am just so thankful to be where we are today. It has been one of the hardest years of my life, yet one of the most fulfilling. Thank you and God bless.

Melissa