A Day in the Life

I had to go to a baptism yesterday. I use the word 'had' because the child being baptized is my god-daughter. So, you see why I 'had' to go. Not that I didn't want to. Of course I did and I never expected to leave the party afterwards crying my eyes out.

But that's how it is as a parent of an autistic child. You never know what will happen, especially in an uncontrolled environment.

It started off pretty good, normal almost. There were plenty of wonderful understanding people around who helped take care of my children while I attended to my godparent duties. Luke even behaved rather well during the early part of the service and when he did get a little rambunctious, he very willingly went home with my best friends mother, whose home the party was at after church.

Later though, at the party, was when things went horribly wrong. It's bad enough that Luke's father is MIA for most events, but on this particular day, my 11 YO was absent as well. Meaning I was left with sole responsibility of an autistic 2 YO and a very active 9 month old baby. In a house full of strangers. During what ordinarily would be naptime at home. What was I thinking????

Luke was typical Luke, running from room to room, touching anything and everything, licking, smelling, spilling. He went from person to person and plate to plate, taking food when he saw something he wanted and drinking whatever from any cup he could find when he was thirsty. If I or someone else tried to tell him no or take him away, he would try to bite, start crying, or throw a tantrum. Finally, after two hours of this, along with the crying Jacen, who did not appreciate being strapped in a stroller so I could run after his brother, I apologized and left in tears.

I wonder: at one point during the church service, Luke was babbling away and said something which to several people at the party said sounded like 'devil'. Upon being informed of this I  remarked, "Maybe he isn't autistic at all, maybe he's really possesed!"

Please help me try to find the humor in this. I asked another mother I know whose daughter has Asperger's how long it was until she finally felt... "Less frantic?" she asked? "Probably last year." Her daughter is now 6. I don't know if I can make it another 3 and a half years feeling like this....