Happy Birthday sweet girl,

Time goes so quickly. So, indulge me please, while I reflect on the past fifteen years.

Let me just start by saying, everyone thinks their grandchild is just the cutest thing ever. In my heart, I certainly know that. But you really were. You, my sweet girl, had something special. A light in your eyes. A smile that could outshine a million candles. You were a presence that could take my breath away. We all knew from the start that there was nothing ordinary about you. And we were right. You, my sweet girl, were special.

I know you roll your eyes at the stories but just a few for good measure. After all, how often does your Nana get to reflect on your fifteenth birthday?

When you were just six months old, your memaw used to rock you and sing rock-a-bye-baby. It wasn’t long before she told us that you could hum along. Now, just so you know, while we all thought you were great, nobody really believed you could hum along with a tune. But guess what? You could and did. And we were all amazed.

Fast forward a few months. You come from a long line of readers in your family. We all loved to read children’s books to you, so when you began scooting over to the corner and turning your back on us to “read” to yourself, we all thought “oh how cute.” It didn’t take too long after that for us to figure out you knew how to read. Like really read. You could read fluently at two. And we were all amazed.

Your vocabulary, your sense of direction, your ability to read and comprehend. All these things were astounding for such a young child. We couldn’t believe it. But we also saw your struggles. We saw your struggle to acclimate to the classroom, to fit in socially, to find acceptance and to be included. The meltdowns, the anxiety, the sensory issues. All of the things associated with autism spectrum disorder. You handle them all everyday. You, my sweet girl, are all these things wrapped up in one. You are a scholar, you are creative and innovative, you struggle with anxiety, you have sensory issues and meltdowns. You are an autistic teenager. And you continue to amaze us all everyday of your life.

Everyday I see the path you must walk. I see you making your way in a world that often struggles to understand and accept differences in people. I know in my heart that being a young woman with ASD will not make your life easy and I truly wish I could shield you from the obstacles that you will likely face. However, I do realize that through facing these challenges you will find personal growth. Remember sweet girl, hold your head up high and never let anyone dim the light that shines within you. For you are a change-maker.

Just so you know, sweet girl, you are never on this path alone. You have a family that walks with you. We celebrate your strengths and stand beside you when there are setbacks. But I want you to know that there is more than just your family. We are working right now to help build a community of acceptance and understanding. A community that recognizes your value and allows you to find your place in this world.

So, sweet girl, as you turn fifteen, know that you are cherished beyond measure. Know that you are valued for exactly who you are. And know that no matter what challenges may come your way, you have a family who believes in you and a world that is waiting to be changed by your presence. I have no doubt you will continue to amaze us all.

Love,

Nana