I watched her one Fourth of July with her severly autistic son. He screetched and flung some spaghetti around. He ate off the ground. She slowly and carefully tried to wipe up his red sauce mouth. Then she calmly led him to a large tree swing where he turned from somewhat of a terror to a happy go lucky boy.

Though she was a few years younger than I, she looked tired and more aged. She had so much knowledge about autism, it surpassed any certified expert. “You have to keep at it.” she said. “I don’t have much time for fun. ”

Another was a teacher friend. With her energy and dedication, it was amazing that there was more left to attend to her oldest autistic son. Many a time during conversation she had some “If onlys, some “how am I ever going tos” and whys?. I just listened and nodded.

She had watery mascara at times. Her hands were marked up. She had more knowledge than any educator I knew. “Sometimes things get so kooky.” she’d say with a sigh. “But we’ll work it out.”

These moms are strong,wise, patient, hard working, and determined. They cope with life’s disappointments and still managed to say “Life is good.”

Examplary moms like those are an inspiration. You learn so much from those who battle life with such accomplishment. Moms like that help you to realize “Life is what you make it.”
“Chin up. You can do it. ” is there motto.

For them, every cloud has a silver lining. I remember hearing that the mom of the severly autistic son would never comprehend a story. Upon a reading of one, her son laughed out loud appropriately. It was a moment of pure joy.

For every bump in the road, there was a smooth spot. I remember my teacher friend mom telling me that her son didn’t know how to be social and was worried he would never have fun with friends. He was heard singing on a Kareeokee machine one New Years Eve hanging out with some friends.

For every “pull your hair out moment”, there was compassion. I remember one mom holding her son on her lap smiling for a family picture. I remember the other mom kissing her son goodbye and he beamed. Never do those boys doubt their mom loves them.

For every mistake, there was wisdom gained. I remember one telling me, “I found all the food in the house gone!” Her son had eaten everything in sight. But now her son is cooking his own meals.

These are such inspirational Moms. Moms that stand out among many. Moms who were moms before I ever became one. Moms, who now are more than providing inspiration. When Goldi was diagnosed autistic, those two moms became my mentors.

It was those Mentor Moms that I turned to for answers and support. It was they that showed me that Goldi’s austism had not erased all dreams. They showed me that life would move forward and I would learn to know what being mom to this child I had been given as a gift was all about.

These Mentor Moms, who are farther along on the journey, are still demonstrating perserverence, patience, and determination. These Mentor moms still experience more about setback, struggle, and a just plain “throw in the towel” life than I’ve ever known. And there is One True Mentor, the One who is able to turn their “hard beyond hard” life into more than something good. He makes everything into a greater glory. All I have to do is look at those Mentor Moms’ example. And with that kind of Mentorship, this Mom’s journey of raising Goldi is destined for nothing but amazing.