The Joys of Raising A Child with Autism

Discover the quiet joys of raising a child with autism: tender moments, small wins, affection, kindness, routines, & celebrations every day.

Oftentimes, when one thinks about raising a child with autism (or being a guardian to someone within the spectrum), they imagine sleepless nights, unpredictable behaviors, peculiar food preferences, sensory triggers, and many more.

I’d say that’s pretty accurate. As a father to a child with autism, I’ve had my fair share of sleepless nights and navigated through days of unpredictability. However, that’s just one facet of the story. I guess one aspect of autism parenting that isn’t frequently talked about is the joy of raising a child with autism. Yes, autism is not always the dark or lonely place that is often depicted in stories (commonly shared by special needs parents themselves).

Autism parenting is actually filled with a lot of happy stories and many unforgettable wins. As I’ve mentioned in a previous post, when you are a special needs parent, you will know how to appreciate and celebrate every small win. You will learn to take things a day at a time.

Anyway, here are some of my personal experiences and even realizations regarding the joys of raising a child with autism. Again, please note that these are my family’s experiences with my son.

Autistic Kids are Affectionate

My son is very affectionate. In Tagalog, we call them “malambing.” Most autistic kids I know are very affectionate. My son, for instance, loves being kissed (and kissing us in return). At night, when it’s time for bed, he would ask me to hug him until he fell asleep. When he was little, he loved being carried, and until today, he would still ask me from time to time to carry him (or piggyback him).

They are kind

I believe autistic children are very kind. If not for the sensory overload (and being uncomfortable), I think they are very gentle and pure of heart.

They can be organized

Yes, they can be very organized in many situations. My son, for example, would often place an object or toy back on a shelf if it fell. The same for the pillows that fell out of our bed. He also doesn’t want to see doors that are open and would often close doors that are ajar.

They can melt your heart with their funny antics

My son has a lot of funny antics, like touching my nose and mouth in the morning when he wakes up. Sometimes he would also randomly jump in successive intervals. At times, he would also do “happy” dances when he was satisfied and contented.

They are often very generous

My son is very generous, especially to his younger brother. He wouldn’t react or get angry, even if his brother took his tablet or toy. He’d say or do nothing and just ask me to get his toy back. In any case, I’m awed by the generosity of my eldest son and the understanding of my younger son towards his big brother.

Can you think of other situations in which autism parenting is never dull or lonely?