Chapters

In life, doors open and close.  Life moves, often rather quickly, and your "book" often fills itself with the chapters of your life.  Sometimes you realize when these chapters start and finish, sometimes it just happens, and you don't realize until you look back.  Today is one of those days that a new chapter is beginning.  One that I've known was coming for some time.  One that I've been waiting on, and often dreading... 

Today, my son who was diagnosed with Autism at 2 years old, starts Kindergarten.  I can vividly remember sitting in a conference room when a team of professionals each took their turn telling me all of his deficits.  I remember the words "Severe Autism with Regression".  I remember thinking, "Oh my God, how did we get here?  What did I do wrong?  How can I fix this?  What will this look like when he is ready to start school?"  Without verbalizing any of this, the center coordinator must have sensed the overwhelming blow that had just hit me and simply looked at me and said, "We don't know what this will look like 3 or 4 years from now.  It depends on the amount of therapy he receives and its effectiveness.  I'm sorry we don't have more answers for you." 
I left that room, with my 2 year old son, with Autism...
For the last 4 years, he has worked harder than any little boy should have to work.  He's sat through countless hours of therapy; learning things that come so naturally to others.  I could go on and on about the therapies, the doctor's visits, the heartache, but I won't for no other reason than those are chapters that are behind us.  Chapters that are finished.
Today is bittersweet.  Today my little guy will start on a new adventure.  He will be in a regular education classroom with his peers.  Yes, he has an aide (an amazing women, I might add), and yes, we still have a long road ahead of us with lots of social skills yet to acquire.  But he is amazing and he's worked so very hard to get to where he is today.  He has a fantastic smile and a silly sense of humor.  He is always listening, soaking it all in, even when you think he's not paying attention.  His words are beautiful, each and every one of them (yes, even when he argues with me).  Four years ago I wondered what this day would be like, what challenges we would face, how many skills we would have gained.  Now that it's reality, I thank God for giving us strength, for all of the skills that Cade has acquired, and for all of the wonderful people who have helped Cade reach this milestone.  I pray this chapter brings wonderful things.  I pray for his safety, for his happiness, and for growth.

And so it begins...