All parents have hopes and dreams for their kids. But for moms and dads of children with autism, those goals and aspirations might be a bit different. We asked parents of children on the autism spectrum to share their greatest wish for their sons and daughters who are living with the condition marked by difficulties in communicating, socializing, and sensory processing.
Skills that most parents take for granted, like the ability to express one's self or form friendships, are just a few of the things these moms and dads are wishing their special kids someday achieve.
Take a look at these parents' honest and eye-opening responses. Increasing awareness of the challenges these families face could be the first step in helping their dreams come true.
Increased Awareness
"I wish people would be more aware of autism and not take advantage of these kids due to their inability to read social cues. I would not change a thing about my daughter. She is amazing, artistic, and has a great sense of humor." –Anonymous
More from CafeMom: 28 Amazing Tattoos for Autism Awareness
To Have Friends
"My greatest wish for my autistic son is that he make friends and know the wonder of true friendship." — Anonymous
To Be Able to Have a Conversation
"I wish my child had the power to express himself. He has so few words and is so frustrated by his lack of speech. Understandably, of course. We've tried so many interventions and I never give up hope, but I just don't know if we'll ever have the conversation we're both longing for." — Anonymous
Confidence
"My wish is that they feel confident in who they are. My kids are still young, ages 5 and 3, and we talk to them about autism. We feel that embracing their neurodiversity is important for them to grow to be empowered, self-aware kids and adults," says Kristin Novotny, who blogs about life with two children on the spectrum at Little Mama Jama.
To Find Contentment
"I am the parent of a 16-year-old boy with autism. There are honestly so many things that I wish for him, but if I was to say my greatest wish for him, it would be that he would be happy, or at least content in his life. He has spent so many years being unhappy, and feeling like he does not measure up, because of being teased and bullied. He's moved from school to school, and in the last year, [he] spent six and a half months out of 12 in the hospital. For him to find contentment would mean that he would be able to leave all of that behind him and live a life that he can enjoy. This is my greatest wish for my son." — Sarah
To Believe in Himself
"My greatest wish for my child with autism is for him to believe in his gifts, greatness, and the magical way he impact others in the world.
"I want my child to know that no matter what others may think or say of him that he is 'au-mazing' in all that he does. As he begins to learn more about his unique strengths and differences, he continues to help others shift their mindset towards acceptance and inclusion." — Dr. Alisha Griffith
More from CafeMom: 5 Kids With Autism Who Inspire All of Us
To Be Her Own Advocate
"My daughter is still preschool-aged but I just worry that if someone is cruel to her or hurts her physically, she won't have the language to tell us. It haunts me." — Anonymous
To Enjoy Life
"My son Tyler is 19 and living with autism all of his life. He is a wonderful, cheerful young man, and my greatest wish? [What] I would love for him to have is just pure happiness. Even though the outside world can be scary, I just hope he can enjoy life to the fullest and more." — Jennifer
To Feel at Home in His Body
"So often my child seems so uncomfortable in his own skin. Noises are too loud, labels are too itchy, lights are too bright. I wish he could experience one day without all that sensory overstimulation and feel truly at home in his own body." — Anonymous
More from CafeMom: 35 Things Not to Say to the Mother of a Child With Autism
To Live With Purpose
"Because autism is said to be a lifelong condition, my wish is for my son — I am not sure if he is aware of his condition — to see himself as a normal person who happens to have special needs. I also wish for him to be able (through intervention) to live a fulfilling and purposeful life." — Gadi
To Achieve Independence
"Our greatest wish for our son Jonah, who has autism, is for him to be independent and financially independent as an adult and not have to be a burden or rely on his siblings for help. This is the biggest issue that keeps [us] up at night. Will he be able to have a job, care for himself, and live a happy, independent life? He is only 10 years old and we are already working on making this wish a reality for him." — Gilda
Mainstreaming
"I hope that my son attains the skills to thrive in a mainstream classroom. I think he'd benefit so much from being around typical peers. I just don't know if it will ever happen." — Anonymous
To Graduate From High School
"My greatest wish for my son with autism is to be accepted in society and not be foreclosed from opportunities. I want my son to receive a high school degree so he has the option to attend college and eventually to attain a job of his choice so he can make a meaningful living in the context of a meaningful life." — Valerie John, vocational coach at Nicholas Center, which assists people with autism in leading productive and meaningful lives
To Feel Happy & Unafraid
"I am the parent of a child with autism, as well as a special needs advocate. I have gone back and forth about this very question many times. At the beginning [my wish] would have been for my son to speak. Then my wish was for him not to hurt himself. Next it would have been to have one friend. At 10 years old my long-term wish is that my son will be able to feel happy in the world around him. I want him to make his life whatever he wants from it because it makes him happy, not because he is afraid." — Melissa
To Be Safe
"You read so many awful stories in the news each day about children with autism leaving school or home and the outcome is almost always heartbreaking. My greatest wish is that my daughter is safe at all times." — Anonymous