Created in PS Elements 9 using
* Note To Self by Biograffiti
* Notebook Paper Page Masks by Katie Pertiet
Inspired and excerpts taken from Welcome to the Club by Diary of a Mom
http://adiaryofamom.wordpress.com/2009/05/01/welcome-to-the-club/
This page was designed on the premise that it was a note to myself 12 months ago. At that time we were waiting for my son to be assessed for Autism. This last year has been the most challenging of my life and has really tested me. We have come a long way in 12 months and many challenges yet to face ... this past year (I hope) will prove to have been the most difficult.
Journalling
I know you are staring down what looks to be an impossibly steep road ahead of you. I know the obstacles ahead of you appear to be too great and the learning curve too steep. It is not. You wont believe me but you will overcome and triumph over the challenges ahead of you this year ... and one day without warning, you will look down and see how far you have come. You may even smile.
You will doubt yourself. Really doubt yourself for the first time in your life. You wont trust your instincts. You will be afraid that you dont have the capacity to be what your son will need you to be. Worse, youll think that you dont even know what he needs you to be. You do. I promise. You will.
You are so much stronger than you think you are. Trust me. I know you. Well, I am you.
You will find people in your life who get it and some that dont. Youll find some that want to get it and some that never will. Youll find comfort and relief with friends who speak your new language. Youll find your place.
You will blame yourself. Youll think you have done something ... missed signs you should have seen. Youll be convinced that you should have known. That you should have some how gotten help earlier. You couldnt have known. Dont let yourself live there for long.
You will dig deep and find reserves of energy you never would have believed you had. You will run on adrenaline and crash into dreamless sleep. But you will come through it. I swear, you will. You will find a rhythm.
You will encounter people who care for your child in ways that restore your faith in humanity. You will cherish the teachers and therapists and caregivers who see past his challenges and who truly understand his strengths. They will feel like family.
You will find it difficult to be around or hear about other
children that are the same age as your son ...
especially friends and family. You will want to share
in their accomplishments and triumphs but will
just find it too painful. This will get easier.
You will get angry over the lack of funding and support by
government and health insurance companies. You will find your voice and your one true calling for its use.
You will think you cant handle it. You will be wrong. You will be OK.
