My life was blessed by having a child with Down syndrome. I have said and will continue to say that she has been my greatest teacher. I learned so much about unconditional love from her.
I, also, learned to redefine success. She lived a light and loved filled life. She created a huge circle of people that adored her through the force of her effervescence and isn't that a successful life?
Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful reflection. Your words are so powerful, and I completely agree—unconditional love truly is the greatest teacher. Your daughter sounds like such an incredible soul, and I’m honoured to hear about her impact. Thank you for your kindness. 💖
Beautiful, Salwa. My son was diagnosed at four years as being on the spectrum (for him, it was PDD-NOS until he was in high school). He went through some tough years and still has struggles at almost 29, but he's living his life. I was in therapy for a while and the therapist reminded me that I can't live his life any more than he can live mine, and as such I had to temper my expectations. In fact, to see him alive (not a given since he was born at 1lb, 13oz) and healthy may be all I can ask. The journey is certainly not as monolithic as so many see it as ...
Thank you for sharing your story—it really resonates with me. It’s a reminder that each journey is unique, and the beauty lies in embracing every step, even when the path isn’t as straightforward as others might think. Your strength and love for your son are inspiring, and it’s clear that you’ve supported him in such an incredible way. Wishing you both continued growth and peace on your journey. 💙
It brings so much hope into our world when parents grow as you have through neurodivergent children Instead of resisting it and wishing it was different.
You are leading by example which is so imperative for the western culture to connect back to their hearts.
These are our kids, they have the language and we need to listen to them and let them show the way.
We have nothing to show them but systems and expectations that were handed down to us and limited us.
Our autistic children are the higher vibration this world needs to heal, we need to keep listening to them. They are the truth. Xx
Thank you so much for your beautiful words. It’s so powerful to hear how we can shift our perspective and grow alongside our children, embracing their unique gifts instead of trying to fit them into a mold. You’re absolutely right—they have so much to teach us, and we’re fortunate to be able to learn from them. Our children truly are the light in this world, guiding us back to what truly matters. 💙
This isn't just writing about love , it's love made visible through words. Each sentence carries the weight of lived experience, the quiet triumphs, the challenging moments, the life changing ones. You don't just tell us about unconditional love. You show us its face. I love how you move autism from a clinical label into a lens for seeing the world's hidden beauties. Spectacular!
Wow, thank you so much for such a heartwarming and beautiful response. Your words mean more than I can express. It’s truly my goal to bring the lived experience to life and show the beauty that comes with it—especially through the lens of my son’s world. I’m so grateful that my words resonate with you. 💙
Lovely share and Happy Birthday to your boy~ I'm an Auti... whilst my indifference can drive people crazy, Mum's appreciation of my unusual way of navigating others was a guiding light for me to learn to live in two worlds.
Thank you so much for your kind words, and happy to hear from you! I love that your mum was a guiding light for you in navigating the world in your own unique way. It’s amazing how the people who understand us best help us embrace our differences. Wishing you continued growth and peace in both worlds! 💙
My oldest child is autistic and through her lenses I realized growing up I was also autistic. This piece brought tears off joy to my heart, to read through your experience and relate. They are so beautiful, because of them we are better people! 💜
Thank you so much for sharing that with me. It’s amazing how our children can help us see ourselves more clearly, isn’t it? They truly make us better people, showing us new perspectives on love and life. I’m so glad this piece resonated with you. 💜
Thank you so much for your kind words. It’s true—there’s so much joy in this journey, but also moments that bring tears. It’s all part of the beautiful, complex process of growth and love. I’m so glad the piece connected with you. 💛
Thank you! It’s amazing how we continue to grow and learn, no matter the stage of life. It sounds like you and your husband are on a wonderful journey together. Wishing you both continued growth and discovery! 💕
This is beautiful and made me cry. Two of my grandsons are autistic; they are 10 and 6 and the younger one is non speaking. They're the most wonderful boys and much loved and as you so eloquently say, they've taught me so much 🥰
Thank you for sharing this. It’s incredible how much we learn from them, isn’t it? Your grandsons sound like such special boys, and it’s clear how deeply they are loved. Wishing you and your family continued joy and growth together! 💖
Beautifully expressed, a lesson for all of us in our relation to others.
Incidentally, my daughter went to Imperial College (a top-ranked science university for those unfamiliar). She noted one day that a significant percentage of its students are autistic. She said they are the best scientists, as they see out-of-the-box. Of course this is a generalisation, but I like the perspective involved.
What a wonderful perspective! It’s so true that neurodivergent minds often bring fresh, out-of-the-box thinking, especially in fields like science where new ideas are key. Your daughter’s insight is a powerful reminder of the strengths that come with different ways of thinking. Thank you for sharing! 🌟
Thanks for sharing your son with all of us. And what a beautiful glimpse into who you are as the perfect mom to him and for him. Thank you, thank you , thank you.
Beautifully written and very true. Love is about accepting others, showing up, and sharing both the burdens and the joys in life as we all try to move in whatever direction we define as "forward".
Thank you so much for your kind words. You’re absolutely right—love is about acceptance and being there for each other, no matter where the journey takes us. We all define “forward” in our own ways, and that’s what makes the process so meaningful. 💖
Your words mean so much—thank you. I think we all learn at our own pace, and sometimes it just takes a little longer for certain lessons to sink in. I’m grateful for everything my son has taught me, and I’m glad we can share in these reflections together. 💖
This is beautiful Salwa. My grandson is 10 and on the waiting list to be tested for a neurodivergence. I suspect he has ADHD but whatever, it’s a label. To me, he is different and that makes him special. Some days when he stays with us, we could almost forget he’s here, he’s so quiet. Other days I pray that he will stop talking, just for a few minutes. Thank you for sharing this with us 🤗
Thank you for sharing that with me Sue It’s so true—labels are just labels, but what truly matters is how we see and appreciate them for who they are. Your grandson sounds like a beautiful, unique soul. I love how you embrace both the quiet moments and the more energetic ones. It’s all part of the journey. Sending lots of love and gratitude your way! 💛
And if I may, speaking as someone with strong ADHD and mild autism, each neurodivergence (which really just means "mentally different") has both strengths and challenges. Each can very much be a gift and a superpower if you learn how to manage their challenges and leverage their strengths. That simply requires not accepting the paradigm of "this is a disease" so common in the medical community.
Thank you so much for the birthday wishes and kind words! I’m truly grateful for the opportunity to share my story and connect with others. It means a lot. 💛
What a beautiful testimony.
My life was blessed by having a child with Down syndrome. I have said and will continue to say that she has been my greatest teacher. I learned so much about unconditional love from her.
I, also, learned to redefine success. She lived a light and loved filled life. She created a huge circle of people that adored her through the force of her effervescence and isn't that a successful life?
She was the greatest gift our family received.
Thank you for sharing your wonderful boy with us.
Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful reflection. Your words are so powerful, and I completely agree—unconditional love truly is the greatest teacher. Your daughter sounds like such an incredible soul, and I’m honoured to hear about her impact. Thank you for your kindness. 💖
Beautiful, Salwa. My son was diagnosed at four years as being on the spectrum (for him, it was PDD-NOS until he was in high school). He went through some tough years and still has struggles at almost 29, but he's living his life. I was in therapy for a while and the therapist reminded me that I can't live his life any more than he can live mine, and as such I had to temper my expectations. In fact, to see him alive (not a given since he was born at 1lb, 13oz) and healthy may be all I can ask. The journey is certainly not as monolithic as so many see it as ...
Thank you for sharing your story—it really resonates with me. It’s a reminder that each journey is unique, and the beauty lies in embracing every step, even when the path isn’t as straightforward as others might think. Your strength and love for your son are inspiring, and it’s clear that you’ve supported him in such an incredible way. Wishing you both continued growth and peace on your journey. 💙
Thank you.
It brings so much hope into our world when parents grow as you have through neurodivergent children Instead of resisting it and wishing it was different.
You are leading by example which is so imperative for the western culture to connect back to their hearts.
These are our kids, they have the language and we need to listen to them and let them show the way.
We have nothing to show them but systems and expectations that were handed down to us and limited us.
Our autistic children are the higher vibration this world needs to heal, we need to keep listening to them. They are the truth. Xx
Thank you so much for your beautiful words. It’s so powerful to hear how we can shift our perspective and grow alongside our children, embracing their unique gifts instead of trying to fit them into a mold. You’re absolutely right—they have so much to teach us, and we’re fortunate to be able to learn from them. Our children truly are the light in this world, guiding us back to what truly matters. 💙
This isn't just writing about love , it's love made visible through words. Each sentence carries the weight of lived experience, the quiet triumphs, the challenging moments, the life changing ones. You don't just tell us about unconditional love. You show us its face. I love how you move autism from a clinical label into a lens for seeing the world's hidden beauties. Spectacular!
Wow, thank you so much for such a heartwarming and beautiful response. Your words mean more than I can express. It’s truly my goal to bring the lived experience to life and show the beauty that comes with it—especially through the lens of my son’s world. I’m so grateful that my words resonate with you. 💙
Lovely share and Happy Birthday to your boy~ I'm an Auti... whilst my indifference can drive people crazy, Mum's appreciation of my unusual way of navigating others was a guiding light for me to learn to live in two worlds.
Thank you so much for your kind words, and happy to hear from you! I love that your mum was a guiding light for you in navigating the world in your own unique way. It’s amazing how the people who understand us best help us embrace our differences. Wishing you continued growth and peace in both worlds! 💙
My oldest child is autistic and through her lenses I realized growing up I was also autistic. This piece brought tears off joy to my heart, to read through your experience and relate. They are so beautiful, because of them we are better people! 💜
Thank you so much for sharing that with me. It’s amazing how our children can help us see ourselves more clearly, isn’t it? They truly make us better people, showing us new perspectives on love and life. I’m so glad this piece resonated with you. 💜
Well written with joy in your heart but sometimes with tears in your eyes
Thank you so much for your kind words. It’s true—there’s so much joy in this journey, but also moments that bring tears. It’s all part of the beautiful, complex process of growth and love. I’m so glad the piece connected with you. 💛
This is so beautiful.
I'm learning these things too as my husband and I grow older and learn more about ourselves. It's really an incredible thing.
Thank you! It’s amazing how we continue to grow and learn, no matter the stage of life. It sounds like you and your husband are on a wonderful journey together. Wishing you both continued growth and discovery! 💕
You are so kind! Thank you
This is beautiful and made me cry. Two of my grandsons are autistic; they are 10 and 6 and the younger one is non speaking. They're the most wonderful boys and much loved and as you so eloquently say, they've taught me so much 🥰
Thank you for sharing this. It’s incredible how much we learn from them, isn’t it? Your grandsons sound like such special boys, and it’s clear how deeply they are loved. Wishing you and your family continued joy and growth together! 💖
Beautifully expressed, a lesson for all of us in our relation to others.
Incidentally, my daughter went to Imperial College (a top-ranked science university for those unfamiliar). She noted one day that a significant percentage of its students are autistic. She said they are the best scientists, as they see out-of-the-box. Of course this is a generalisation, but I like the perspective involved.
What a wonderful perspective! It’s so true that neurodivergent minds often bring fresh, out-of-the-box thinking, especially in fields like science where new ideas are key. Your daughter’s insight is a powerful reminder of the strengths that come with different ways of thinking. Thank you for sharing! 🌟
This is beautiful, thank you.
Thank you Patty
Thanks for sharing your son with all of us. And what a beautiful glimpse into who you are as the perfect mom to him and for him. Thank you, thank you , thank you.
You’re very welcome Shawyn and thank you for your kind comment 💛
Beautifully written and very true. Love is about accepting others, showing up, and sharing both the burdens and the joys in life as we all try to move in whatever direction we define as "forward".
Thank you so much for your kind words. You’re absolutely right—love is about acceptance and being there for each other, no matter where the journey takes us. We all define “forward” in our own ways, and that’s what makes the process so meaningful. 💖
You have learned in 14 years what it took me a lifetime. ❤️🔥
Your words mean so much—thank you. I think we all learn at our own pace, and sometimes it just takes a little longer for certain lessons to sink in. I’m grateful for everything my son has taught me, and I’m glad we can share in these reflections together. 💖
❤️🔥
This is beautiful Salwa. My grandson is 10 and on the waiting list to be tested for a neurodivergence. I suspect he has ADHD but whatever, it’s a label. To me, he is different and that makes him special. Some days when he stays with us, we could almost forget he’s here, he’s so quiet. Other days I pray that he will stop talking, just for a few minutes. Thank you for sharing this with us 🤗
Thank you for sharing that with me Sue It’s so true—labels are just labels, but what truly matters is how we see and appreciate them for who they are. Your grandson sounds like a beautiful, unique soul. I love how you embrace both the quiet moments and the more energetic ones. It’s all part of the journey. Sending lots of love and gratitude your way! 💛
And if I may, speaking as someone with strong ADHD and mild autism, each neurodivergence (which really just means "mentally different") has both strengths and challenges. Each can very much be a gift and a superpower if you learn how to manage their challenges and leverage their strengths. That simply requires not accepting the paradigm of "this is a disease" so common in the medical community.
Thank you Rodolfo. I totally 💯 agree.
First, Happy birthday to your son! Second, thank you so much for sharing your story and insights with us.
Thank you so much for the birthday wishes and kind words! I’m truly grateful for the opportunity to share my story and connect with others. It means a lot. 💛
I love reading your story. Keep up the great work :)