Connections

February 18, 2009

Last weekend while attending a basketball game in Spokane an acquaintance from Yakima, who has since moved to Seattle, approached me. She is a grandmother to many wonderful children. One of who has autism. She stated that she had read Erin Lynch’s article on line and had been moved by the way Erin openly expressed how it felt to be a mother of children on the autism spectrum. With tears in her eyes she stated, “ I know how Erin feels. My daughter knows how it feels to be in a grocery store and have people stare at you with disgust at how your child is behaving.” This grandmother knew that she was not alone. The feelings and emotions that are so overwhelming for parents, siblings and grandparents can feel so isolating.

It is natural to feel so “alone” in a society that honors beauty and “appropriate behavior”. Children’s Village is our community’s response to those 1 in five families who feel so alone. Who describe the moment that they were told something was wrong with their child or knew that something was wrong with their child, as being “kicked in the gut”. The journey does not get easier. Throughout life there are reminders of that initial punch.

A few weeks ago a grandfather called me and left a pleading voicemail. With trepidation in his voice he asked for help in getting speech therapy for his grandson who was not speaking. Upon visiting this grandfather and his “voiceless” grandson, I saw such love and adoration between the two of them. His concerns are valid, and yet once I saw the grandson go to his grandfather, look at him and snuggle up in his arms, with pure contentment, I knew they would be ok. I knew that because in addition to this grandfather knowing something wasn’t right and seeking out help early in his grandson’s life, this grandfather loved his grandson unconditionally. His grandson knew it to. And I saw in the connection between the two of them, and it was strong, the synapse firing with every hug and encouraging word.

What we now know about a child’s development, is what families have known all along intuitively, that unconditional love and support coupled with the latest research based interventions, will impact young brains in incredible ways.

At Children’s Village we strive to facilitate connections for families and children. And indeed, daily we do.

Diane Patterson

Posted in Notes From The Village