A Love Poem For My Autistic Son

In 1992, it was estimated that between 4 and 10 in 10,000 children were born with autism. Today, the estimate is 1 in 10. Do we just have better diagnostic techniques or is it some chemical in our air, food, or water? What is happening to our children?

For more information about autism, visit autismspeaks.org.

I wrote this poem for my autistic son after losing custody of him. I was a single parent who suffered from undiagnosed and untreated Bipolar Disorder. I also could not access child care and could not support my children trying to work around the school schedule. There were no resources available where we lived at the time. His father and family do not acknowledge a child they perceive as less than perfect. I had no support and could not do it on my own.

The pain of separation far outweighed the struggles we had already suffered.

My Little Man,

My Special Friend,

You will always be.

You are my one and only son.

You mean the world to me.

Other children’s foothills

Are your mountains overcome.

Other families’ battles,

Are wars that we have won.

So march onward Little Soldier;

We will win this war, too.

I promise to reunify

your sisters, me and you.

If we must wait until you’re big

For us to be together,

Remember that a mother’s love

Is made to last forever.

Love,

Mom

If you are the parent of a child with autism, find and utilize all the support you can and try to be financially prepared for worst case scenario. If you know somebody who has a child with autism, offer any support you can. Autism is becoming so prevalent that one day soon we will all know somebody affected.

On September 24, 2010, I was reunited with my son. Thank you to all the people out there who work with autistic children and their families. We couldn't do it without you!