"Daddy got his hair cut, Mommy!" my son exclaimed as we walked in the door from the garage into the house. 

There was a time when I just wanted to hear, "Mama."  I wanted to hear, "Mama," so bad I changed the lyrics to "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" to, "Mama, Mama Mama Maaaa!"  The only word my two year old son would say was, "da".  "Da" wasn't used in a meaningful way.  He would just say it every once in awhile (to get our hopes up, I think). 

Three weeks after my son's second birthday, we found out why he didn't point, screamed for almost an hour (over what seemed like nothing), banged his head, and couldn't talk.  Simon had autism.

My world turned upside down and then went sideways.  I just curled up on the couch and fell asleep for three hours after I found out.  Then, our parents as teacher educator, Julie, came for her scheduled home visit that evening.  She went over everything a 2 year old should be doing and Simon was nowhere near where he was supposed to be.  My 2 year old tested at a 10 month old level.  I dissolved into sobs and Julie (who I think I scared to death) quickly excused herself as my family gathered around me to give me hugs (my husband, daughter, and older son).  I had to call in to work and tell my boss I wouldn't be in the next day.

Three years ago I thought I would never hear, "Mama".  A year ago, after hours and hours of therapy, I heard, "I love you, Mama".  Today, I heard, "Daddy got his hair cut, Mommy!"  This is the first time my son has shared an observation with me and it was WONDERFUL!!!  I'm still smiling!!!

Autism is treatable, and it's about damn time health insurance companies covered the therapy these kids need to get better!  It's the same type of therapy a stroke patient gets!   I want to shout it from the roof tops!  I want to SCREAM it in the streets! 

Our kids need HELP!!!