Monday, April 2, 2012

Day 2- Why I'm "lighting it up blue" !





I don't care who started "Light It Up Blue". I don't care if you agree with that organization or not. I'm not here to agree or disagree with them, because honestly I'm new to this ballgame and I don't know a whole lot about it. So, I'm going to tell you my reasons for lighting it up blue today and for the entire month of April. Our special needs journey began with our youngest daughter over three and a half years ago. We are still no closer to a diagnosis today than we were then. A diagnosis won't change our day to day, but without one there is no ribbon, there are no groups to join, there are no diagnosis specific support groups, you're stuck in the unknown. I can spread awareness about special needs, the Special Olympics, and Spread the Word to End the Word, which I do, with my whole entire heart. 
Now, with Grace, there is Autism. And with the month of April, Autism Awareness, and Light it Up Blue. So I'm going to support my Aspie Girl just like I do my youngest. I'm going to change my porch light and I'm going to throw a blue lantern in my window for good measure. I'm going to shine a light on Autism. Hopefully more people will learn something from all of the posts people are putting up all over Facebook. My daughter is not rude, she lacks social skills and doesn't know how to conduct herself in social settings well. My daughter is not a dirty hobo. Clothing makes her uncomfortable and the only thing she likes are cotton t-shirts and sweat pants. She doesn't like to wash her hair and will make it clear she only does so because she's being tortured. If you don't brush her hair it won't get brushed, because that again is just torture. No she doesn't have a dot on her forehead, that is her ever present wound because she "picks" when she's stressed or in uncomfortable situations, which is pretty much all of the time. Now, she has two spots on her head and more on her arms because it's summer, ya know, short sleeves and all. So, yeah, I started rambling but you get the point. 

I'm not lighting it up blue to annoy you for 30 days.
I'm not lighting up blue to make everyone who doesn't have Autism or a kid with Autism feel bad. 
I'm not lighting it up blue because I want to be cool. 
I'm lighting it up blue for GRACE!


2 comments:

  1. AMEN!! You can speak for me anyday!

    ReplyDelete
  2. You go girl! Lighting it up for Autism Awareness is personal for us too, and I think in the personal you find the real determination behind any awareness movement!

    ReplyDelete