By Jessica Watson

Life after loss with autism, preemies and a rainbow baby

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Autism and Friendship

By Jessica

An unfamiliar blend of sound bubbles from beneath the door.  Not wanting to spoil conversation or interrupt the flow of smiles behind voices, I wait.

Giggling warms me as I turn the knob, two heads bent, searching for end pieces, shaping a landscape hand over hand.

I top off their sparkling juice and welcome applause at the luxury of a whole bottle just for the two of them.

The plan is to save it for midnight, the cups are breakable, only 26 minutes remain, actually 25 and 50 seconds and then they can count down from ten. All of this reported by dancing eyes buried deep in puzzle sorting.

I tumble fresh pillows and blankets to the floor, the silence my presence has created ushers me to the door.

A perpetual game of solitaire sits untouched, it’s only company an abandoned computer.

As I disappear they pop in headphones, one for each of them.

From the other side of my daughter’s door I might just begin floating from the melody.

They sing the same song.

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48 Comments Filed Under: Autism


Comments

  1. Lanie says

    January 8, 2012 at 8:30 pm

    Such a great post – so happy. Happy 2012 to you all. Thank you for sharing. Take care.

    Reply
  2. Natalie @MamaTrack says

    January 7, 2012 at 9:21 pm

    I am so for her. and you. And her friend. Happy New Year to you all!

    Reply
  3. jenn says

    January 6, 2012 at 5:14 am

    Aww, I remember those days as a teenager 😉 what a gift it is to treasure the absolute ordinary in some moments. Beautiful!

    Reply
  4. Amber says

    January 5, 2012 at 3:13 pm

    This was written very well! I enjoyed reading it.

    Reply
  5. Kristin @ What She Said says

    January 5, 2012 at 2:30 pm

    How lovely – for her and for you. 🙂

    Reply
  6. Charlotte says

    January 4, 2012 at 10:20 am

    Beautiful, beautiful writing, Jessica 🙂 I love the imagery you use in this piece.

    Also, I keep meaning to tell you that I am absolutely in love with your header. Soo sweet!

    Reply
  7. Lady Jennie says

    January 4, 2012 at 8:59 am

    I get it! This is so beautiful. When I first read it, I didn’t understand that your daughter had a friend over. This just warms my heart to read.

    Reply
    • Jessica says

      January 4, 2012 at 9:15 am

      She had her first friend over to spend the night and it was so great, for all of us!

      Reply
  8. Practical Parenting says

    January 4, 2012 at 12:17 am

    What can I say other than this is simply beautiful? I can only imagine how you must have felt. Please pass the tissues.

    Reply
  9. Tonya says

    January 3, 2012 at 10:58 pm

    So sweet – what a beautiful moment.

    I love the way you write.

    Reply
  10. Megan (Best of Fates) says

    January 3, 2012 at 9:40 pm

    Sounds like a beautiful friendship. And a fun party!

    Reply
    • Jessica says

      January 4, 2012 at 9:29 am

      They were so excited about the sparkling juice, I love how the simple things make them SO happy.

      Reply
  11. Ann says

    January 3, 2012 at 5:19 pm

    “They sing the same song”

    Killing me.

    Reply
  12. Varda (SquashedMom) says

    January 3, 2012 at 4:57 pm

    Just so beautiful Jessica. I’m so happy for you, for her. Friendship. Wow!

    Reply
    • Jessica says

      January 3, 2012 at 5:23 pm

      I know you can appreciate this moment Varda, honestly it will be one of my sweetest New Years memories ever. She truly found someone who is so similar to her that they just sort of exist in the same space and it works. They giggled constantly.

      Reply
  13. Alex@LateEnough says

    January 3, 2012 at 3:29 pm

    Makes 2012 look like a darn good year. To friendship. {clink}

    Reply
  14. Nichole says

    January 3, 2012 at 11:07 am

    And this right here is why I love you so…that you saw that moment…felt it’s magic.

    Absolutely beautiful writing, my friend.
    xoxo

    Reply
  15. Klz says

    January 3, 2012 at 10:13 am

    ThAt sounds like the most amazing way to spend the holiday.

    Reply
    • Jessica says

      January 3, 2012 at 2:14 pm

      It was, I had no idea what a great experience it would turn out to be, for both of us.

      Reply
  16. Kimberly says

    January 3, 2012 at 8:28 am

    Love. Love the imagery.
    So poetic my friend.

    Reply
  17. JDaniel4's Mom says

    January 3, 2012 at 8:07 am

    Hooray! You must have been soooo happy!

    Reply
  18. angela says

    January 3, 2012 at 7:58 am

    You captured this so beautifully, and I can just imagine how utterly happy it made you to experience it. So lovely.

    Reply
  19. story says

    January 3, 2012 at 7:49 am

    Your writing is so beautiful, and I can feel the joy in this moment. I am so happy you and your daughter had such a happy new year.

    Reply
  20. Jade @ Tasting Grace says

    January 3, 2012 at 7:45 am

    This makes me smile.

    Reply
  21. Ann says

    January 3, 2012 at 12:36 am

    So beautifully written. What a sweet moment for them.

    Reply
  22. Galit Breen says

    January 2, 2012 at 10:43 pm

    So very beautifully told, Jessica!

    Reply
  23. Krista says

    January 2, 2012 at 9:06 pm

    Love this. Such a tender moment, that you captured with heart and warmth.

    Reply
  24. Cindy says

    January 2, 2012 at 6:28 pm

    beautiful text… I can see it when i close my eyes.

    Reply
  25. Miss Marina Star says

    January 2, 2012 at 5:24 pm

    What a perfectly wonderful way to ring in the new year! I hope you are privy to many more moments like this in 2012!

    Happy New Year!

    Reply
  26. Kimberly says

    January 2, 2012 at 5:06 pm

    Wonderful moment, beautifully captured.

    Reply
  27. Tina @ Life Without Pink says

    January 2, 2012 at 3:38 pm

    What a precious moment!

    Reply
  28. Leighann says

    January 2, 2012 at 3:08 pm

    Oh my goodness that is wonderful!!!
    What a fantastic New years!

    Also? I love your header!

    Reply
    • Jessica says

      January 3, 2012 at 7:42 am

      Thank you Leighann, I’m a little in love with it too :).

      Reply
  29. Mark says

    January 2, 2012 at 3:01 pm

    It’s a great feeling when our children are happy.
    m.

    Reply
  30. Jen Has A Pen says

    January 2, 2012 at 2:58 pm

    I love this. I feel like I’m in the room with them. Such a special moment.

    Reply
  31. Jennie B says

    January 2, 2012 at 1:50 pm

    “They sing the same song.”

    This has so much meaning for me – to be able to hope that someday there may be others who sing the same song as my son, who will understand him and be his friend. How wonderful!

    Reply
  32. Jackie says

    January 2, 2012 at 1:19 pm

    What a beautiful moment to share. Thank you.

    Reply
  33. Dana K says

    January 2, 2012 at 12:21 pm

    Jessica, this post had me smiling while reading it. Such a simple yet profound moment.

    Reply
  34. Kristen says

    January 2, 2012 at 12:08 pm

    Sounds like your daughter had a wonderful night! It’s lovely to see someone else see what you do in your child. Friendship is so important.
    Happy New Year to you and your family!

    Reply
  35. julie gardner says

    January 2, 2012 at 11:57 am

    I think there’s almost nothing better than watching someone ELSE love your child.

    What a joy this must have been. For them. For you.
    Happy new year, Mama.

    And cheers to finding somewhere we belong…

    Reply
  36. Jen says

    January 2, 2012 at 11:54 am

    I can totally see it. I just love it.

    Reply
  37. Robbie says

    January 2, 2012 at 11:20 am

    Sounds like the sleepover was a success!

    Reply
  38. Barbara says

    January 2, 2012 at 11:13 am

    I love this Jessica. Such a beautiful way to capture such a special moment.

    Reply
  39. Shell says

    January 2, 2012 at 10:59 am

    What a wonderful moment.

    You always amaze me with your ability to put so much emotion in your words.

    Reply
  40. Jen says

    January 2, 2012 at 9:12 am

    What a precious moment Jessica.

    Reply
  41. Rachel says

    January 2, 2012 at 8:38 am

    Love those moments. Treasure each one.

    Reply
  42. liz says

    January 2, 2012 at 8:19 am

    So sweet, Jessica!

    Reply
  43. tracy says

    January 2, 2012 at 7:20 am

    Oh Jessica – this is beautiful.

    This line – oh this line…
    “the silence my presence has created ushers me to the door”

    xo

    Reply

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