Anna is what they call “non-verbal” which means she doesn’t really use her words for her main source of communication. Even though she can. She’s capable. Anna likes to stand in front of me and stare. And I have to ask, “What would you like?” And she’ll say, “Okay!”
“But you didn’t tell me anything!” I say. “What would you like?”
She responds, “Please!”
ARGH! “Anna! What. Do. You. Want?”
“Okay!” Then she turns and goes back to her couch. See, she wants me to read her mind so she doesn’t have to talk. That’s the autism.
HOWEVER … the other day, I gave her a bowl of Nacho Cheese Doritos and some juice. I was in the kitchen, cleaning up after lunch. I hear her behind me so I turned around and there she was with her empty bowl. And without any prompting from me, she said, “Want more chips.”
WOO HOO!!! Do you know how HUGE this is? My almost 27-year-old daughter asked for more chips without me having to prompt her! The power of Doritos! hahahahaha! That’s kinda hard to truly understand if you don’t have a special needs child, but it’s just like when a child is maybe 2 or 3 years old and they ask for something without prompting. You get so excited that they got it!!! That’s what I live with – little moments like that. Moments that may never happen again.
But I’ll take them when I can get them.
I shared this with a group of moms who also have special kids. One mom thought about it, and she wrote such a beautiful response, I want to share part of it with you (with her permission).
Laura said:
Yes, when your child is dependent on you in most ways equal to a two-year-old, you rejoice in these milestones. You never, EVER give up hope. Anna’s achievement was equal to a mommy hearing her seven-month-old say, “Ma-ma” for the first time. And, yes, Pam rejoiced the same.
This incident got me thinking.
At times, I think we feel that God doesn’t rejoice over us quite the way He did when we were new Christians, or quite the same way He did when we were “being good”.
When the metaphorical ‘chips’ (anything we need to pursue God and to help His people) are down, He truly wants us to ask for the provisions and resources we need to do His will – that thing he sent us here to do.
Our Heavenly Father’s love for us is so pure and unconditional. I picture Him sitting on His throne cheering us all on. He smiles and laughs with us. He’s terribly proud when we succeed. He is so relieved and excited when we choose Him, when we use His love and empowerment to do those things He sent us to do. He never gives up on us! Never!
Today, when I go before Him in prayer, I think He would rejoice in hearing me say, “Want more chips!”
Is Laura right or what?
So …. go forth, my friends, and ask for more chips!
Encouragement from a fellow special mama
7/31/2020 3:36:00 PM by: pam
A Sister's Love
5/16/2019 7:58:00 AM by: pam
Medical Moms
1/26/2019 7:03:00 AM by: pam
The Power of Doritos
5/7/2018 12:00:00 PM by: pam
Yay For Friends!
1/9/2018 3:15:00 PM by: pam
Show You!
9/11/2017 12:58:00 PM by: pam
Happy? 26th Birthday, Anna
5/15/2017 7:37:00 AM by: pam
Re-grouping
3/14/2017 8:10:00 AM by: pam
We can relate!
9/1/2016 8:00:00 AM by: pam
A Little Fall Fun
10/18/2015 8:04:11 AM by: pam
Going Commando
10/5/2015 6:37:04 PM by: pam
So Behind
9/22/2015 8:42:33 AM by: pam
Stares and Storytime
4/12/2015 7:12:46 AM by: pam
Big Big Changes
3/27/2015 9:12:27 AM by: pam
Blog Post on Autism
9/22/2014 7:30:14 AM by: pam
The Power of Pets
9/12/2014 4:21:44 PM by: pam
Depression's Demands
8/15/2014 2:19:26 PM by: pam
Do We or Don't We?
8/4/2014 12:00:01 AM by: pam
Falling Down
6/22/2014 1:36:52 PM by: pam
Research Study
5/23/2014 12:48:08 PM by: pam
Who goes? Who stays?
5/19/2014 12:11:51 PM by: pam
Being Thankful
4/25/2014 7:37:26 AM by: pam
Excellent Article
4/7/2014 7:03:09 AM by: pam
Jury Duty and Holland
3/27/2014 7:36:35 AM by: pam
I Confess
3/17/2014 8:11:55 AM by: pam
The Dreaded Medication Change
3/4/2014 12:49:56 PM by: pam
Keeping It Together - part seven
2/24/2014 1:03:18 PM by: pam
Keeping it Together - part six
2/10/2014 8:20:16 AM by: pam
A Milestone Day
2/3/2014 8:13:17 AM by: pam
Keeping it together - part five
1/21/2014 6:43:18 AM by: pam
Keeping It Together - part four
1/3/2014 7:56:02 AM by: pam
Keeping it Together - part three
12/16/2013 7:34:46 AM by: pam
Keeping it Together - part two
12/9/2013 6:30:25 AM by: pam
Keeping it Together - part one
12/5/2013 8:00:03 AM by: pam
Catching Up
11/13/2013 8:22:00 AM by: pam
The Perfect House
10/25/2013 8:06:56 AM by: pam
Another Mom in the Mix
10/7/2013 3:11:58 PM by: pam
Grieving the Loss
9/24/2013 8:39:13 AM by: pam
Great article
9/11/2013 1:06:06 PM by: pam
This and That
9/9/2013 4:09:18 PM by: pam
Fun in the ER
8/30/2013 9:17:32 AM by: pam
Bless me, Anna!
8/14/2013 1:51:41 PM by: pam
Talk to me, Anna!
8/8/2013 5:04:30 PM by: pam
God's Will
7/30/2013 3:13:08 PM by: pam
Update on Anna's bloodwork
7/24/2013 6:31:05 AM by: pam
Stirring the Cesspool
7/11/2013 6:27:11 AM by: pam
Vacation and Other Fun Stuff
7/3/2013 5:46:28 AM by: pam
A Day at the Beach
6/17/2013 8:05:05 AM by: pam
Anna's Surgery Experience
6/5/2013 12:03:49 PM by: pam
No Place For Anna
5/26/2013 8:27:52 AM by: pam
Painful Gifts
5/21/2013 8:56:57 AM by: pam
Happy 22nd Birthday, Anna!
5/15/2013 6:48:55 AM by: pam
A Rough Day
5/6/2013 6:18:44 AM by: pam
Things I've Learned - part five
4/30/2013 8:02:08 AM by: pam
Things I've Learned - part four
4/22/2013 6:51:41 AM by: pam
Things I've Learned - part three
4/15/2013 6:14:06 AM by: pam
Things I've Learned - part two
4/9/2013 7:40:11 AM by: pam
Interview with Terri Groh
4/5/2013 5:44:08 AM by: pam
Things I've Learned - part one
4/3/2013 7:55:42 AM by: pam
The Things People Say - part eight
3/27/2013 6:06:08 AM by: pam
Comparisons
3/18/2013 8:06:43 AM by: pam
Why Is It A Blessing?
3/11/2013 6:24:04 AM by: pam
Tim's Place
3/8/2013 11:57:02 AM by: pam
New Medication Worries
3/5/2013 6:38:36 AM by: pam
A Night Out for Anna
2/25/2013 11:29:44 AM by: pam
Play it again, Sam
2/20/2013 5:47:32 AM by: pam
Happy Birthday
2/15/2013 5:32:13 AM by: pam
The Anna Bowl
2/4/2013 8:01:33 AM by: pam
The Queen of Babble-on
1/30/2013 12:45:36 PM by: pam
Really, people?
1/25/2013 7:36:11 AM by: pam
Cold Feet
1/23/2013 7:55:46 AM by: pam
Hearing God
1/15/2013 6:58:57 AM by: pam
Running Away
1/10/2013 11:19:00 AM by: pam
Post-Christmas-Reentry-Syndrome
1/4/2013 6:49:36 AM by: pam
Emmanuel, God With Us
12/17/2012 6:51:08 AM by: pam
Take Heart
12/7/2012 4:42:07 AM by: pam
Jumping in the Leaves
11/27/2012 5:56:16 AM by: pam
Being Thankful
11/19/2012 7:02:07 AM by: pam
Patience and Love and Wretchedness
11/13/2012 7:38:47 AM by: pam
A Typical Halter Vacation
11/8/2012 8:35:45 AM by: pam
Is This Really My Life?
11/1/2012 5:21:04 AM by: pam
Frankenstorm
10/27/2012 4:22:45 PM by: pam
A Small Victory at Anna's Program
10/24/2012 7:21:36 AM by: pam
Update on the problem at Anna's program
10/22/2012 8:23:51 AM by: pam
The Fight Goes On
10/19/2012 4:55:06 AM by: pam
Fighting the Good Fight
10/18/2012 7:01:44 AM by: pam
Sit down, Anna
10/16/2012 6:44:47 AM by: pam
The Things People Say - conclusion
10/15/2012 8:32:45 AM by: pam
The Cloaking Device
10/12/2012 6:22:27 AM by: pam
The Things People Say - part seven
10/11/2012 5:56:56 AM by: pam
The Things People Say - part six
10/10/2012 5:35:53 AM by: pam
The Things People Say - part five
10/9/2012 6:59:06 AM by: pam
The Things People Say - part four
10/4/2012 6:00:52 AM by: pam
The Things People Say - part three
10/3/2012 6:09:22 AM by: pam
The Things People Say - part two
10/2/2012 5:29:13 AM by: pam
The Things People Say - part one
10/1/2012 7:52:27 AM by: pam
Godzilla Lives at my House
9/27/2012 6:58:41 AM by: pam
The Early Bird Gets Eaten
9/26/2012 5:22:30 AM by: pam
Over and Over Again
9/25/2012 5:15:50 AM by: pam
What Good Are Seizures?
9/21/2012 11:48:29 AM by: pam
Why Me?
9/20/2012 8:37:32 AM by: pam
The Rest of my Life?
9/19/2012 5:47:36 AM by: pam
Feelings
9/18/2012 1:23:56 PM by: Pam