The end of April! April is extremely busy, and sometimes depressing, for autism families. But this one was a little different. I was able to showcase some true-life autism stories from some awesome autism moms on this blog, and there were some new encouraging developments for the autism community. So, I end this month exhausted but hopeful, and with an extreme amount of gratitude for the blessings in my life – especially the people.

For most of my life, I’ve been lucky enough to have amazing friends. Maybe because I didn’t have a lot of friends as a child, I’ve really appreciated friendship, and I have taken great care to recognize and celebrate it and to be a good friend in return (I truly hope that I’ve been as a good a friend as they’ve all been to me). I’m not saying all my friendships have lasted or stayed the same. But I’ve been blessed to have a group of truly extraordinary women surrounding and supporting me – the right people at the times I’ve need them the most.

Autism kind of turned everything I know about friendship on its head. There is a time when you first enter the autism world when you are alone. You need to be alone to process and grieve, but even when that has passed you feel extremely lonely. And some of your friends stick by you, but some will fall away (because you can’t go out to “normal” events anymore, because you can’t really relate to one another anymore, or because you are just not the same person anymore). But, as you become part of the autism community, you will make new friends. They may have different (wildly different!) political views, religious views, upbringings and personal tastes, and be at different educational levels and socioeconomic status. They might be people you wouldn’t have ever encountered, let alone become friends with, pre-autism.

But, autism often leads to a better appreciation of everyone’s unique gifts, an understanding of the innate beauty we all possess, and the realization that we can think differently about different things and still respect and admire each other. You will realize that these women are smarter and braver and stronger and kinder than anyone you’ve ever met. They are tenacious, and funny (you cannot be an autism mom without a sense of humor) and bad-ass. And they will make you better. One of my fellow autism moms refers to us as “the best friends we wish we never met.”

Does it make the autism journey worth it? I can’t say that. I’m grateful for personal growth and a greater understanding of what is truly important, but that will never be worth the suffering of my child. But, this is the life we have now. If you have autism in your world – this is the life you have now. You might as well find some purpose in it. You might as well find some joy. And you might as well have some friends. Even if you wish you never met them!

So, I want the last post I write during Autism Awareness Action Month to be a huge thank you to all of my friends. To the friends I had before autism, who remained in my life despite that our lives are now drastically different, who take the time to show me that our friendship meant more than having fun or the same kind of life and that they will stick with me no matter what – THANK YOU. I know that I am not as available for you (and I miss you!), but I am grateful for you and I will stick with you no matter what too.

This month, I’ve been featuring guest blogs from other autism moms. I didn’t just want April and writing about autism to showcase only MY autism story. To the guest bloggers who contributed to Holistically Whole this month –  because of you I was able to present a variety of stories, issues, and perspectives. Thank you for so generously taking the time for write for me, despite being crazy busy with autism during the craziest month for autism, just because that’s the kind of thing we autism moms do for each other. THANK YOU!

Thanks to the friends, family, coworkers, and strangers (who are all friends now) who contributed to our TACA Friends & Family campaign by watching and sharing our video and by generously donating. I volunteer for Talk About Curing Autism (TACA) because it is an organization that directly offers help and hope to families affected by autism. I believe in this organization and my family had the help of TACA when we needed it most. So, I am proud to help carry out TACA’s mission. But TACA’s services are provided largely through volunteer efforts (no private jet, lavish dinners, or six-figure salaries there) and we could not help almost 50,000 families without YOUR help. So, THANK YOU!

To the autism mom friends I’ve made on this journey – I cannot thank you enough. Words cannot express how grateful I am that you are in my life. This journey is not easy, and it is because of you that I am able to keep going – because you walk with me and hold my hand, or carry me, or drag me by my ankles! There are lots of times that I’m not sure I would have made it through without your love and support. In case you don’t already, know how much you mean to me. THANK YOU!

A few of my friends who are ALWAYS there for me

So, with that I will bid a final adieu to April and a final HUGE heartfelt THANK YOU to the best friends I wish I never met.