My youngest son is non-verbal autistic. Diagnosed at age 2 1/2. He is 16 now. I'm on several parent advisory committees in MO. Have any questions, let me know.
Lynn

I've never commented on one of these but this one had me thinking all night. I also have read the comments and what I think hasn't been brought up so. . .I am a mother of two boys - 21 and 16 (non-verbal autistic), I am a teacher for headstart. I have "babied" my boys and will not deny it. My 21 year old still lives at home, flunked out of college and I still cook, clean & pay all the bills. Now, everyones says, "don't do that, your spoiling them." No one has walked in my shoes so no one knows what we as mothers (single) have to go thru. My son was 12 and broke his neck, almost died, at 14 he moved in with his dad because he "thought the grass was greener". Moved back within a year. I've watched several close friends, as mothers, loose their children to accidents and watch them grieve so hard that it breaks my heart. We never know, in this day and age, how long we are going to be around nor our children. So cherish every moment, good or bad. Don't sweat the small stuff or scream over spilled milk. Trust me, I am a Mom.