Almost Famous

This morning started out the same.  Noah, always the first one up, bounds out of his room to greet me the moment he hears my footsteps in the kitchen.  To say he's "bright eyed and bushy tailed" in the morning is an understatement.  And, with quarters as close as ours, I have to work fast to redirect his energy.  I remind him again to get dressed and to use his whisper voice so as not to wake sleeping beauty (a.k.a. Natalie) whose bed is only a few steps from the kitchen.  It's 6:30 and he's been up for more than an hour and ready to have a deep conversation with me about my favorite Star Wars character.

"It's still Han Solo, Noah."

I dash around the kitchen, I'm in a race to prepare Noah's standard...an omelet with "square cheese", two slices of bacon (thank goodness for micros), two slices of toast with a sprinkling of chocolate chips, and a bowl of Cheerios with milk and bananas.

We've decided he must have hollow legs or worms because Noah's a kid who has to run around in the shower to get wet.  Yet, I'm happy to prepare him this hearty meal as there was a time not so long ago when all he wanted to eat was Ranch dressing.

Once he's fed, I can give him the meds his body needs so that he isn't bouncing off the walls or inviting conflict at home or school.

As I put Noah's plate in front of him, my T-shirt catches his eye and he begins reading the words inprinted on it.

"Action for Autism Family Fun Walk?...Mom, what does Autism mean?" asked Noah.

His question caught me offguard and in that second it set off an internal war in my head.  Why hadn't I prepared myself for this question?

I put down my spatula and sat down next to him. I began, "Autism is a neurological disorder..."

"Huh?"
"It's just a term used to describe how some people's brains process information differently."
"And I have it?" he inquired excitedly. His voice going up an octave.
"Yes," I replied.
"Yay! So, I'm like famous?" he cheered.
"I think you are on your way, buddy."