A brief, but meaningful conversation with Hunter...x2

(after losing to Hunter at Connect 4, Yahtzee Junior AND Bop it..)

Hunter: Girl, we have to talk.
Me: Ok Hunt, about what?
Hunter: Well, Girl, some days you are a winner. Some days you are a loser. Today, you are a LOSER.

(later)
Hunter: Tonight is almost a full moon
Me: What does that mean?
Hunter: It means when the moon becomes full the werewolves come out.
Me: Well, good thing we don't know any werewolves....
Hunter: but we do!
Me: who?
Hunter: YOU!
Me: I'm a werewolf?
Hunter: Yeah, and don't bite me, Girl.
Me: Well thanks for telling me, Hunt. I didn't know I was a werewolf.*
Hunter: Well Girl, someone had to do it. Might as well be me.

And there you have it, the gospel according to Hunter.

*And all this time i've just thought I was a bitch...

Allow me to climb up onto my soap box for just a moment

On Friday, the National Center for Disease Control released some startling statistics.

The rate of Autism Spectrum Disease has increased from 1 in 140 (as of 2007).

Autism now affects 1 in 70 boys, 1 in 110 children total.

Second, it is now classified as "Autism Spectrum DISEASE" as opposed to the old diagnostics "Autism Spectrum DISORDER."

ONE out of SEVENTY. And the rate is even higher in Minnesota, New Jersey, Florida and Michigan. (1 out of FORTY in NJ)

Think about that, for just a second.

ial

Hunter is lucky. Other children with ASD's are not so lucky.

Every Tuesday, I take Hunter and one of his classmates to bowling practice for the Special Olympics. There are 9 other children on the team, 7 of whom have an ASD. The function on a wide range of levels - from Curtis, who unless you've seen a meltdown, you would never know he was autistic. Down to Delilah, who uses a communication advice to speak. But when she laughs, oh does your heart melt. And those few times, when she does speak, with a bashful look on her face, you have to control your urge to hug her closely.

She doesn't like to be touched, you see.

Autism not only affects it's victims - it affects their families. Delilah's parents have dedicated their lives to making hers reach its full potential. Hunter's father has given everything he has to put his son in the best possible environment.

Other children are not so lucky.

I had a child come through my work last week with his father. The child was visibly autistic. His father slapped him on the head and called him a "fucking retard."

I've never felt so heartsick in my entire life.

Hunter's mother chooses not to be in his life. His father stepped up and is his only parent. He lives with his parents to get support - Hunter is hard to care for on your own all the time.

Curt's mother is a single mother. She is trying her hardest to do what's best for him, but it's hard to keep your temper with him sometimes, especially when he is having a meltdown.

The rate of autism has more than tripled since 2003. Pretty soon, the statistic will increase again. What will it be next? 1 out of 20? When will people sit up and realize that this is truly an epidemic that is kidnapping our children from us?

I'm stepping down from my soap box now.

The Princess and the Frog

I took Hunter to see The Princess and the Frog last night, he's been begging my all week to see it, so I caved and took him. (because the word "SUCKER" is written across my forehead.) I was expecting to find it decent at best, not worthy of comparison to the Disney of my childhood.

I've usually got pretty good instincts, but this time I was wrong.

Disney has always had a special place in my heart. My first memory is going to see The Little Mermaid with my aunt - my first movie. Afterward, we went upstairs on the escalators and went to a store that had an indoor playground, and then a trip to McDonald's. The whole day felt magical. But when you are 3 years old, most days feel that way.

While The Princess and the Frog won't usurp The Little Mermaid, it will definitely find a place in my top 5 Disney movies.

After the movie, Hunter suckered me into a trip to Border's to get the book that goes with the movie. Again, because the word SUCKER is in big bold letters across my forehead.

Aussie land? Mais, je suis.

I envy him. In Hunter's world, everything happens the way he wants it to, and if it doesn't, he moves on.
He wants to go to Australia? He's going to Australia. He realizes it costs money? No big deal, he's going to play his harmonica for money and then go.
Dad won't let him out of the house to play his harmonica? No problem. He goes on youtube and it's all better.
He is self-content, not relying on others for his happiness. He could go days with out communicating with anyone, and it wouldn't make a difference to him, not at all.
Disappointment doesn't last long in Hunter's world. Neither does sadness. He's mostly a little ball of happiness and energy.
Yes, I envy him.

But then I think about to other side of it..he can't tell you how others are feeling. he doesn't feel empathy. He doesn't feel guilt. His emotions can be categorized as either "happy" or "momentarily sad." He doesn't have words for anything else he feels. Mostly, it's happiness.

He lives in the moment. He isn't thinking about the future, he isn't thinking about something that happened 2 years ago. He's thinking about now.

I envy him sometimes, I really do.