You know you're an autism parent when...

You know you’re an autism parent when …

·         You have to give your child a head or back rub so he can sit through a meeting or church service.

·         Your child totes a stack of books and magazines every time you leave the house.

·         Words like echolalia, neurotypical and antecedent behavior roll off your tongue.

·         Initials such as IEP, ABA, ASD and ADHD are as common to you as LOL or IDK.

·         You both anticipate and dread the first day of school.

·         You mention an event and your son can tell you the date, year, day of the week and weather conditions even though it was ten years ago.

·         You hold his hand in the parking lot or when you cross the street, even though he’s taller than you.

·         His booming laughter fills the house at some silly show he’s watching on TV and it makes your day.

·         People offer you platitudes instead of offering to watch your child so you can take a break.

·         You celebrate every new achievement, no matter how small.

·         The word “change” fills you with dread.

·         You can’t even take a shower without your child talking to you through the closed door.

·         Your family room looks more like LEGOLAND than a place to relax.

·         You feel closer to your child’s therapists than your friends and family.

·         Your child’s backpack has more stress relief gadgets than school supplies.

·         Your teenager still needs naps, both at home and at school.

·         Your wardrobe is filled with T-shirts imprinted with the puzzle piece symbol for autism.

·         His wardrobe is filled with T-shirts he’s chewed holes in.

·         Your heart sinks every time the phone rings on a school day.

·         You and your spouse share a box of Kleenex whenever you hear a news story about kindness and acceptance towards an individual with special needs.

·         Your child’s music teacher has to remove the song “Oh my Darling Clementine” from her repertoire due to the fact that your son cried his heart out because Clementine is lost and gone forever.

·         Your heart breaks when your son sits in the back seat of the car after a bad day at school and sobs “I wish I didn’t have autism.”

·         You have to warn your child not to repeat what he’s heard, be it personal or political.

·         You know more about the Titanic than most documentaries on said topic.

·         Your child wakes up at six every morning, be it a school day or summer break.

·         Your son has to be given five minutes’ notice for everything, including taking out the garbage.

·         You want your child’s behavior to improve yet you love him just as he is, because he’s your treasure from heaven.

·         You love him so much, you couldn’t imagine him any other way.