We are coming up on 2 years since Jonah’s “official diagnosis.”

When I was first learning about “autism,” especially before Jonah was “officially diagnosed” I automatically assumed that all the other “experiences” out there would be “our journey.” I looked all over youtube (specifically at ‘worst-case’ scenarios) and ended up just making myself depressed.

But since then, I have learned one of the most valuable lessons in parenting.

Jonah isn’t “defined” by autism…. Jonah DEFINES autism, at least for us. Everything I know about autism is filtered through him.

I can’t speak for everyone else and their experiences with autism. Each journey is different.

He’s not “that kid” on YouTube. He’s not some statistical piece of data on a percentage chart.

Jonah is the same kid he was before he was diagnosed, and he’s the same kid now.

It’s been 2 years…wow.

I’m now able to look back at the day he was diagnosed with the same attitude I might have finding out my heritage on a site like Ancestry… It’s all interesting stuff, but it doesn’t change WHO I already am.

It’s the same with my kids.

But, since Jonah’s diagnosis, we have been able to get him services and into programs that have made a WORLD of difference for us.

In 2 years we have come SO FAR…

… and we still have so much farther to go… and that is why we continue to advocate.

(Thanks to Stories About Autism for sharing)

Original Facebook Post.