“Hey, ‘me.’ (Parent from 7 years ago).

I know Jonah was just diagnosed with autism (level 3) and that ‘life’ is unfathomably difficult right now.

I know that ‘routine’ tasks like haircuts or dentist/doctor visits are incredibly difficult for you. For EVERYONE, really.

I know that right now, it takes 3 people to clean his teeth, or cut his hair and I know people can hear him screaming from blocks away.

I know this.

I know how IMPOSSIBLE it must feel to imagine having to get a filling, have a tooth extracted or have ANY actual work done on his teeth.

Absolutely impossible.

Let me tell you something.

He will do the impossible. And so will you.

Within 3 years, you will be able to take BOTH boys to get simultaneous haircuts without ANY additional backup or help.

Within 5 years, not only will Jonah sit still for dental cleanings, he will sit still for FOUR extractions without being put under.

Impossible, right?

And then a year later, he’ll do the impossible again.

He’ll have EIGHT teeth extracted, and will STILL be willing to go back to the dentist’s office without protest.

He will do the impossible.

Because let me tell you what he did today.

Not only did he NOT protest for his orthodontist appointment, he HELPED them do it.

He sat still for photos. He followed directions. He held his head perfectly still for a 30-second panoramic image, even when part of that process involved putting devices in his ears.

He did it without pause.

And when the gal asked him to help her to retract his own cheeks so she could get a better picture of his mouth, he held the retraction tools himself. It looked impossibly uncomfortable.

But he did it.

I know how hopeless it must seem for you right now.

I know how impossible the task of preparing this child for EVERYTHING in life must seem.

JUST KEEP GOING. Keep putting one foot in front of the other.

Because, today, he did the impossible.

Who knows what he will do tomorrow.”

#ausome #smALLVICTORIES

Original Facebook Post.