Autism awareness

April marks Autism awareness month and this is something near and dear to me as my husband is on the autism spectrum its slight but its there. He has had to struggle a lot with bullying, prejudice, ignorance and intolerance which is a shame because yes he's a little different yes he marches to the beat of his own drum and yes accommodations have needed to be made for him to some degree so he can function in this big confusing world however he also is unique, intelligent, loving and wonderful. He doesn't naturally have filters so sometimes he says things the wrong way or gives out too much info and sometimes he has to be careful with who he trusts but at the same time it's that childlike faith and love that makes him a wonderful husband and life partner. When the cards are stacked against me and I feel like everyone has walked away he's still there. Words can not express how much that means at such a moment. He is so smart and so intelligent and has taught me so much like how to think outside the box and color outside the rigid lines of life he doesn't see just black and white but shades of gray and other colors he doesn't believe there is just one way to think or do something and his mind works in an amazing way. Damian has taught me patience when no one else could as together we have learned how to make a marriage work and how to make it work out so he can still be him but still live in society too. I love and am proud of my husband because he's him but also because of his autism and how he has been learning to turn that into an asset not a curse. I would strongly encourage you to do your homework about autism and to do your part to be more loving and encouraging to all the autistic's out there and their families who are doing the best they can with what they have to work with. They don't need another person to criticize and judge them they need people who will reach out and love and support them and their efforts. Autistic people are just like anybody else they just want to be loved and treated with the same dignity and respect as someone without a disability they want to find their niche and place in the world. I love and am proud that I chose to be married to such a wonderful man and that we figured out how to make this all work because I would be missing out on so many wonderful experiences and life lessons. He has touched my life and I will never be the same.