April is Autism Awareness month, and for awhile now, I have felt compelled to share what our experience with Genevieve’s autism has been like. The Genevieve that we know and love is a little girl who has had our hearts since the moment we met her, no matter what. She’s sweet, loving, caring, smart, and one of the most beautiful little girls we have ever seen. There is so much more to our Genevieve than these paragraphs describe below. Her autism doesn’t define who she is, but it certainly is a part of who she is. Sharing this small part of her is my way of joining the cause to promote awareness and acceptance. Thankfully, we have been blessed with so many family members, friends, teachers, and therapists who continue to support and care about her needs. For others, this will hopefully paint a picture of what her autism is like and perhaps what it is like for kids just like her.
Genevieve doesn’t have many words at just 3 years old, so until she does, I will do my best to be that voice for her. I think that if she could talk about her autism and communicate how she feels, it would go something like this…
When you meet me for the first time, I might not warm up to you right away. I might not even look at you right in the eyes, but trust me, I hear everything you say. So, continue to smile and say, “Hello.” One day, I just might say, “Hi!” back or give you a high-five as a way to welcome you into my world.
I am very affectionate with people I know. I love to give bear hugs and to receive them in return. I have been told that I give the best hugs around!
I get very anxious in new situations. I am at my best when I follow a routine. If something is new, Mommy & Daddy need to prepare me by showing me pictures and telling me what to expect. I also use pictures or sign language to communicate at times. It helps me show others what I want and how I feel.
I can’t formulate many words. But believe me, I am really trying to speak. I make a number of sounds that are so close to actual words. Most adults close to me know what I am trying to say and always cheer me on to continue making those strides.
When I cover my ears, it can mean a number of things. It started out as a way to drown out all of the extra sounds that were too overwhelming for me to hear. My ears are very sensitive, and I can hear very well, so even the smallest of sounds to you can be quite loud for me. As I have gotten older, covering my ears has also become a way to give myself deep pressure. I crave that deep pressure at times when I’m excited, scared, or even really sad about something. It’s a sensation that gives me pleasure and comfort in those moments when I don’t have any other way to let off that excitement, fear, or sadness. If you are an adult that I know and I am comfortable with, you can help me by placing your hands over mine to give me reassurance as well as extra pressure. If not, please be patient with me, look me in the eyes, and share in my excitement or tell me it will be okay.
When you see me flapping my hands and walking on my toes as if I will soon take flight, that means that I am super excited about something. The huge smile on my face will most likely give that away…
I love to be chased and tickled. I love spinning around and jumping up and down. These motions make me really happy – as long as I am in control. I love to push others on swings, but I myself, hate the feeling of being pushed on a swing; I don’t like the feeling of my body being out of control as it fits into space.
When I play by myself, I prefer to take items and organize them, line them up, and sort them out. I love identifying numbers, colors, shapes, and letters. I know them all, and showing others that I know them makes me very proud.
I long to play with other kids my age, but at times I cannot not handle what comes along with it. It’s so fun to watch them play from afar – it makes me giggle and gets me excited, but as soon as they enter my personal space, I feel out of sorts. I will continue to try, but much like my peers, I am not very good at sharing either. Despite all of this, I am showing improvement in school by sitting next to my peers and enjoying activities in a large group. I think that as I grow, I will learn to make friends and hopefully get better at these skills.
I love the feeling of my blankie soft against my face as I snuggle every ounce. It is something I have loved even at just a few months old. I love playing with the tags on my blankies, using my pointer finger and thumb to rub them together. Tags on blankets and stuffed animals are my jam! Tags on my clothing – not so much! My mommy has to cut the tags off of every shirt and pair of pants so that it doesn’t irritate me and make me anxious.
I really dislike brushing my teeth, taking baths, clipping my nails, and brushing my hair. My hair might never appear to be brushed or most likely will look the same every day. The sensory input is too much for me which makes it extremely hard for me to stay calm. I must say though, I am getting better at learning how to tolerate these things, but it has taken a lot of practice and help from Mommy, Daddy, and my therapists.
I love playing with water, but bath time is not so fun. Although I am starting to get better at taking baths, I still don’t like the feeling of water being poured on my head and the scrubbing to get clean. That, along with the echoing noises in the bathroom lead me to refuse to sit down during bath time. Again, I think that as I grow, this will be another thing that I will learn to handle just like other kids my age.
I eat the same kinds of food every day. Most types of food make me feel icky and disgusted. Maybe it’s the texture or smell, maybe the taste. I drink out of the same style of sippy cup for every meal of every day with the perfect amount milk or watered down apple juice. If you see someone spoon feeding me my meal, it is only because the muscles in my fingers are a little weak.
My grip is also too light to properly hold a crayon or marker. It’s something I continue to work on in occupational therapy, but because it is hard for me, I don’t always like it…
Most of all, I want you to know that I am so much more than all of this.
Michelle Jones Photography specializes in natural newborn, baby & child, maternity, and family photography in Cleveland, Ohio and the surrounding areas. We offer studio, outdoor, and lifestyle (in-home) sessions for those who long to capture unforgettable moments and milestones with the ones they love.
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