0 Autism Awareness, yadda, yadda, yadda

How much more aware do I have to be? I was no less aware in March of my son's autism or autism in general.  However, April kicks off Autism Awareness Month so I got to turn up my autism awareness to 11 apparently.  Can I slack off a bit come May?  That would be nice.  Mother's Day and all.

Pardon me for this jaded sounding post.  I mean, really, how can I not put on my Autism Awareness in it's "Rah Rah! Go Team Flappy Quirky" cheerleader face?  Isn't part of the reason I write this blog for awareness?   How rude!

Here's there thing, I am so aware of autism.  I am very much aware of it when my kiddo wakes me up 4 AM to remind me anxiously he would like to vacuum on Saturday. 

I am beyond aware of it when my kiddo starts pacing nervously around the house when I have to inform him of a sudden schedule change because a therapist canceled.

I find myself rolling my eyes with awareness when I get an email from my kiddo's school PTA asking me to make sure my son wears blue on World Autism Day on April 2nd.  Cause you know, he's not really representing how much he supports autism by just being autistic or whatnot. If you asked him what shirt everyone should wear for autism, he'd tell ya Tye dye hippie shirts.  He's got quite a collection.  Keep on truckin'!

My wallet is keenly aware of it when I bring in the mail and I see a stack of bills from credit cards we have used to pay for said above therapy.  Plus, the irony of seeing some fundraising letter from the folks of Autism Speaks mixed in there with them.  I think in the beginning we raised money and sent them some of our hard earned dollars.  Now I toss it in the garbage.  Hey Autism Speaks, I think you got enough from us.  How about some of it back?  How about not asking the very people who kind of need it more than you? How about not designing a new puzzle piece pin to give to celebrities who will wear it only one day and then probably forget about it? Here's your fundraiser for next year.  Don't waste the postage you paid to send this to my house.  I bet other families would probably join me on this.  You'll save so much money!

I'm very aware of it with each passing birthday of his.  I am aware of it when it keeps me up at nights worrying about his future.  I am reminded how much more awareness is needed each time some someone sends me a private message to the companion facebook page to this blog and it's clear their school just doesn't get it at all.  I am made aware of it every time I have to awkwardly explain and apologize  to someone we meet in public why my son tried to take their keys because he had the compulsive need to read the logo for the kind of car they drive on them.

I am aware I just want autism acceptance.  I just want the world to be well past being on a first name basis of autism  I want them to just get it.  To just be like "Oh autistic, okay, what I can to make this work for ya?"  Make it a case of no big thing and yadda, yadda, yadda.

Time to wrap this up.  I'm very much aware I need to get to the supermarket.  My kiddo is very aware that we are running low on french fries.  That's a bigger priority in this house than a blue light bulb.