Real conversation just now between Laini, my 11 year-old with Asperger’s/High Functioning Autism and me:
Laini: Mommy, you really care about Autism. I’m happy that you care so much.
Me: I care about you, so I care about Autism.
Laini: Yeah, when you care about someone, you care about something and if it’s something bad, you change it to make it better. Like colon cancer.
Austim-schmautism. Children who can figure that out at 11 will grow up to change the world.
Judi Sohn 
5 responses to “Raising the next generation”
Yes. That’s wonderful, Judi! She rocks and so do you.
Thanks for the wonderful share. Out of the mouth of Laini comes the learning she processed with supportive parenting.
I believe supportive witnessing is the key to understanding how life unfolds. It’s much different than critical witnessing, which is pointing out the errors, pitfalls. Though important later in the process of growing and processing information – support first and the consequences of what we do will provide the teaching.
My favorite Einstein quote:
I never teach my pupils; I only attempt to provide the conditions in which they can learn.
– Albert Einstein
You’ve done that Judi, I’m moved.
Judi, you move me, too! But then again you always do.
::::Beaming:::: GO, Laini! I love how Spenser has defied all my fears/expectations/imaginings. He is the taproot of the tree of advocacy I had to grow into (not just for him, but for Noah as well)…today I watched him perform on stage in Bridgeport in front of a multitude of people, dancing and playing african drums, performing a poem he wrote himself…this fall he will be taking pre-algebra and Spanish as he enters 7th grade. Asperger’s Schmasbergers. They’ve already changed the world!
Miss you bunches; hope summer is being good to all of you!
WOW!!! I caNnot believe that I found a little girl who has gone through the same thing as my daughter. My daughter Nichole was diagnosed with Idiopathic Scoliosis in January 2008. She has since been fitted with a Boston Brace. Her numbers were in the high 20’s and she is only 9 years old. She will have to wear the brace for twenty hours a dy. Today we completed the 5th day since she got her brace. Each day she wears it a little longer, I am so proud of her. You see I call her my old soul. My husband was diagnosed with end stage liver disease when she was 2 1/2. He had a liver transplant, lived 14 months and died one month short of her 5th birthday. 6 months after that her grandmother fell and suffered a brain injury. Once again Nichole’slife was disrupted because me (MOMMY) became the primary caregiver for both my mother and Nichole’s grandfather. On December 24th as we were leaving for church her grandfather died of a heart attack. Less then three weeks later Nichole was diagnosed with Scholiosis. Through everything that she has had to deal with she remains upbeat. When I asked her about how she felt about her brace, Her response was “ITS JUST A BRACE MOM”.I cannot believe how luck and blessed I am. She has continued to see the glass as half full instead of half empty. We should all be so positve.