We love the blog Flappiness Is because writer Leigh Merryday tells the truth about what it is like to parent a child with autism. There are good days and bad days and everything in between, but the love shines off the page like a beacon and it is impossible to not to love them all right back.

She was kind enough to share a post with us for Mother's Day and you will see why we love her. See below:

Dear Shopper,

Yes, I know. I’m well aware that my child is screaming. Not just a regular scream, but an ear-piercing, sanity-shattering screech.  Even if I wasn’t seeing and hearing it, I would know by the expression on your face.

Clearly, you have raised your children better than me.

There is no doubt that teenagers tend to get a bad rap. Between the bullying and the weird YouTube videos and the drug use and the sassiness, most parents of children dread the day our precious babies turn 13. But there are some teens who make us realize things aren't really as bad as they might seem.

Maddie is a senior in high school, and in a story that is floating around Facebook this week, it's revealed that she went to the parents of Jon, a junior, and asked them if she could take their son to prom. She chose this way because Jon is autistic. “He’s a junior,” she explained to Jon's mom. “So it’s his prom too. I just think he should have the chance to go.”

Cue the tears. Apparently the two met through a group that pairs teens with special needs with kids like Maddie and she took a special liking to Jon. What a moving story.

Another piece of the autism puzzle may be falling into place. Researchers at Yale think they've stumbled on a marker in the placenta that could diagnose the spectrum disorder earlier than ever before. And by early, they mean when a baby is first born.

Imagine, no more waiting until you notice something is off and then waiting for a diagnosis! It all sounds too good to be true.

A new vaccine could make the lives of kids with autism a whole lot easier. As parents know, children on the spectrum often struggle with tummy troubles -- diarrhea and constipation. It turns out there's an intestinal bacteria that's common among kids with autism. Doctors are working on a vaccine that would target symptoms of autism caused by that bacteria.

To be clear, it's not going to wipe out all symptoms of autism. This is a very narrowly-targeted drug that would be used to treat just gastrointestinal disorders. But with everything else parents and kids have to deal with already, can you imagine crossing that problem off your list?

It's beyond heartbreaking to think of what some special education children in the Chicago area may have endured before anyone knew. A teacher from Finkl Elementary School there has been suspended after reports of abuse from students, including one from a 7-year-old boy with autism who is unable to speak that came in the form of some drawings.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, dad Luis Murillo said his son kept coming home this year with bruises on his body. Once the knee of his pants were ripped, "as if he had been pulled across the ground." When Luis checked in with the school, he was told it was from the children fighting with one another.

His son's pictures, however, told a different story.

Whether you call it Autism Awareness Month or Autism Acceptance Month, April is all about spreading the news about folks on the spectrum. But for some people, just one month isn't enough. They want to honor the people in their lives with autism all year long. What better way to do that then getting inked?

Tattoos and autism have become so intertwined there's even a month-long national fundraiser these days: Ink 4 Autism. It's turned the bastion of big, burly biker dudes into a place where moms and dads are heading in droves to get marked for life in honor of their kids.

Inspired? We're just getting started ...

It started out as a horrifying tale of animal cruelty, but the ending is nothing but happy. A puppy was found last year starved and abused, left for dead on the side of a street in Georgia. Her heartbreaking story went viral, and fans around the world cheered as the tough pup, dubbed "Xena the Warrior Puppy," made a miraculous recovery. Now there's reason to cheer even louder.

According to 11 Alive, since her story went viral, Xena has raised tens of thousands of dollars from around the world for other abused animals and brought much-needed attention to the horrors of animal cruelty. She also brought herself to the attention of one very special boy, Jonny Hickey.

All David wanted for his birthday was to see his brother, a soldier in the U.S. Army. David, an adult with autism, had not seen his brother since December 2011. He knew it was "impossible," but when he was asked what his birthday wish was, that's what he wished for. Well, I think you can guess what happened -- David's brother made a surprise visit.

But it's even better than that. You have to see exactly how David's brother surprised him. It's magical -- and the joy on David's face when he sees his brother is priceless.