T'was the Night Before Christmas....

Twas the Night Before Christmas
And all through the house
The creatures were stirring
Yes, even the mouse

We tried melatonin
And gave a hot bath
But the holiday jitters
They always distract

The children were finally
All nestled in bed
When nightmares of terror
Ran through my OWN head

Did I get the right gift
The right color
And style
Would there be a tantrum
Or even, maybe, a smile?

Our relatives come
But they don't understand
The pleasure she gets
Just from flapping her hands.

"She needs discipline," they say
"Just a well-needed smack,
You must learn to parent…"
And on goes the attack

We smile and nod
Because we know deep inside
The argument is moot
Let them all take a side

We know what it's like
To live with her conditions...
The struggles and triumphs
Achievements, regressions…

But what they don't know
And what they don't see
Is the joy that we feel
Over simplicity

She signed "hello"
She ate something green!
She "told" her first lie!
She did not cause a scene!

She sat on the potty
Who cares if she's four,
She stopped saying the same thing
More, more and more!

Others don't realize
Just how we can cope
How we bravely hang on
At the end of our rope

But what they don't see
Is the joy we can't hide
When our children with brian injuries
Make the tiniest stride

We may look at others
Without the problems we face
With jealousy, hatred
Or even distaste,

But what they don't know
Nor sometimes do we
Is that children with brain damage
Bring simplicity.

We don't get excited
Over expensive things
We jump for joy
With the progress work brings

Children with brain damage
Try hard every day
That they make us proud
More than words can say.

They work even harder
Than you or I
To achieve something small
To reach a star in the sky

So to those who don't get it
Or can't get a clue
Take a walk in our shoes
And I'll assure you

That even 10 minutes
Into the walk
You'll look at us
With respect, even shock.

You will realize
What it is we go through
And the next time you judge
We can assure you

That you won't say a thing
You'll be quiet and learn,
Like the years that we did
When the tables were turned…….




Written, not by me, but found on an autism website and a little modified......

Susan