Reasons to be Cheerful ~ Birthday kid!


Reasons to be Cheerful at Mummy from the Heart


It has been a while since my last link up to #R2BC. You know how it goes.... life gets busy and then before you know it, the months have flown by and phew we are facing the end of May.

For this post I thought it would be prudent to focus on my son. He turns 14 on Saturday and the month of May has always been a topsy turvy time for me. Why so? Well, my boy is severely autistic and he is WAY behind his typical peers. Each Birthday has been a milestone missed and a sad reminder that he is very challenged.

Anyway, enough of the blues!

This year I choose to celebrate Nick's Birthday and here are my reasons why...........

I am overwhelmed that my boy is beginning to talk. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that he would be able to say a word. At this stage he is still sounding out the letters to make a word. For example; tonight he said "f...i...sh". As of the last two weeks he has been saying "car" and "cut". Believe me ~ my heart is singing big time!

Nick has become incredibly flexible with any change in his life/routine. If you know autism, you will be aware that many kids on the spectrum (not all) rely on rigid routines because of their need for sameness. My boy used to be like that, however, I have been working on this issue for many years and it is now paying off. Each time we go out into the community and I observe my Mr Flexible, I just grin from ear to ear.

I spend a lot of time with Nick and of course there are days that he drives me crazy, however, I find him to be a very easy kid. I love that over the last two years our relationship has really blossomed and he is now happy to hang out with his old mum (this wasn't always the case!). 

This year, I choose to celebrate Nick's birthday.

Thank you, Michelle, from Mummy from the Heart, for providing me with the platform to focus on the positive aspects of raising a child/teen with autism.



Nick's first Birthday cake in ten years!



18 comments:

  1. Happy Birthday Nick! What a great post - wonderful about the talking and the flexibility. Just about to write a 'flexibility' blog post of my own, strangely enough!

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    1. Thank you, movingbeyondthelabel. I just love the talking!!. Look forward to reading your post. :)

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  2. Happy Birthday Nick, may the next year bring lots more achievements x

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    1. Hi Louise, lets hope the next year is as good as the past one has been. Thanks for your comment.

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  3. Oh I will join too (as soon as I write something cohesive lol). Happy birthday Nick! It is Sophie's birthday today and have to say was frosting cupcakes last night and got teary-eyed too... But held it together. "Reasons to be cheerful" is like a sign first thing this morning. Whether they're hitting their milestones or not, they're here, they're awesome and hey, there's cake! (Or cupcakes...).

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    1. Woohoo, so nice to know that Nick (nearly) shares a birthday with Sophie (which incidentally is my all time favourite girl's name!). Yes, #R2BC certainly came at the right time for me this month. Happy Birthday to Sophie for yesterday. Onwards and upwards.

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  4. My heart is singing for you! 2 of my boys are on different parts of the spectrum. Thankfully, both verbal. The routine! That amazes me, everything about my life is structured. Sounds like you are doing an amazing job x

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    1. @Joanna ~ Thank you. Goodness, you must be kept very busy having two boys on the spectrum. Ah well, at least our lives are never dull, hey?!! :-)

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  5. What a lovely positive post, Happy Birthday Nick!

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  6. Happy Birthday Nick! I so love reading about you! Have a great day with the Toy Story gang!

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    1. @Danale's Ramblings ~ Thank you for the Birthday wishes for my boy. I love reading about your girl! xx

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  7. Happy Birthday Nick! Absolutely fantastic that the words are now coming :D

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    1. Thank, Blue Sky. Isn't it just the best? I love it! :-) xx

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  8. Happy Birthday to Nick. So happy to hear of the break through with learning to speak. Onwards and upwards!!

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  9. What a present for you, Hope you enjoy celebrating xx

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  10. Happy Belated 14th Birthday Nick!

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Thank you for taking the time to leave me a comment. x