kids smiling huggingSometimes we get caught up in the whys and hows when it comes to autism and we neglect to just be in the moment and love and appreciate a child for what he is ... a beautiful child. A beautiful child with a list of accomplishments great and small. Accomplishments that all children have no matter if they are typical or on the spectrum. Autism isn't a definition.

Holly Robinson Peete shared how her son, RJ, is a whiz when it comes to sports trivia and he can name every single player in the MLB, even the stadiums and managers. "... I just think it's important that people see how uniquely gifted these children are," she said.

Here, moms share the fantastic accomplishments of their children including their musical gifts, unique humor, and their ability for pure love and to bring pure joy.

Jackie's special talent is her empathy for others. She can sense people's emotions and be reactive to them as opposed to being indifferent, as so many autistic children are thought to be. - Carole, mother to 14-year-old Jackie

I can't imagine my life without him in it. He has absolutely made me a better person. To be honest, I'm more interested in celebrating and embracing the person Simon is -- helping him to be the best "Simon" he can be -- rather than spending too much time questioning the how or why. - Ali, mother of Simon, 8, with autism, and Anna, age 1

Leo is capable of more pure joy than any child you'll ever meet. - Shannon, mother of 3 including Leo with autism

[My girls] love each other and their other two sisters very much. They all look out for one another ... At the end of the day, you want to be able to look at your family and be so grateful that you are together. Come what may. You have one another. - Christa, mother of 4 girls, 2 with autism

I love how deeply [my children] feel, how easily they laugh, how their minds work, that they each have specialized areas of interest that we can explore together. - Kim, mother of 3 children with autism

My son is gifted musically. He's been taking piano lessons from a neighborhood music school since he was 6 1/2 and has taken to it naturally. His piano teacher thinks he has perfect pitch. This was evident when he was younger and would ask me to sing a song we heard once or twice. I'd attempt to do so to the best of my memory and ability, and then, thinking I was joking, he'd tell me to 'now sing it right!' - Andrea, mother of 9-year-old son with autism

His lovable ways [make him special], the kisses and hugs, the intensity of love he shares with us, his beautiful smile. This list is also endless, We notice the little things, so small most parents wouldn't notice, but with autism spectrum disorder, you notice it all. - Rita, grandmother of 11-year-old Lane with autism

Katie has a very unique outlook on life and a tremendous sense of humor. [She says] 'Mom, so what if I didn't get all As and Bs. I think it's boring to get the same grades.' - Gina, mother of Katie, 14, and Emily 11, with autism

My boys have maintained an innocence you just don't see in many young people their age. It's the kind of innocence that sees things as most of us stop seeing them as we grow older. It's the innocence of play and pure love. - Crystal, mother of 3 boys and 1 girl. Two of her boys have autism.

Share your celebratory stories here.

 

Image via Joyseph/Flickr