March, 2008

Forget the Diagnosis

Autism! Pdd nos! Aspergers syndrome! ADHD! High functioning! Low
functioning! Delayed! Hearing these words about your child can be
crushing. They can devastate you to your very core. The good news is
THEY DON'T HAVE TO!

Let me tell you why..

It doesn't matter. That's right. It simply doesn't matter. If you
want to really help your child then read on. I'm serious. Don't be
like the
thousands who wish they had "lived" this concept sooner.

Pretend for a moment you have a newborn. He is simply perfect. By the
time he is two years old, his fingers are so long, they look strange.
You go
to a renowned physician and ask "What's wrong with my child? Why are his
fingers so long?". The physician smiles and says "Your child has a
condition
called spindle fingers. He has a natural gift for playing musical
instruments. Many dream of having this talent".

You're absolutely thrilled and can't wait to share the news. You rush
home but on the way you stop to buy a toy xylophone, piano, drum set and
flute. You set them out on the floor when you get home and you watch
proudly as your toddler strums each one of them. You don't care that
everyone else thinks it just sounds like noise. You have a budding
musician on your hands and he's practicing!

As the months go by you encourage your child to play instruments. He
gets a little older and expresses his preference for the piano. You
take him
to piano lessons, listen to famous piano players and perhaps even go to
concerts. You explain to your son that his fingers are long because he
is talented at playing the piano. Your son plays the piano
beautifully. He is proud of his fingers and his talent. You are proud
of your son.

You run into the physician a few years later. You tell him proudly
about your child's piano skills. He smiles broadly and says "I made it
all up.
There is no condition called spindle fingers". "What?" you shriek "that's
impossible. My child is an excellent player".

"Of course he is" says the physician "It's called belief. You
believed in your child's fingers. You believed in his talent. You
encouraged him. It didn't matter how many mistakes he made. You hardly
heard them because you knew he was on the path to greatness. Your son
felt your belief. He saw it in your eyes. He felt it course through
his being. It inspired him. Every time he looked at his long fingers
he thought about his talent. He felt proud of
himself. He knew he could do it. Your unwavering faith inspired him to
be the
best he can be".

My advice to you is this. Forget about the boxes and the labels.
Ignore the judgments. Your child is fascinating. Your child is a
unique and
wonderful being who is incredibly special. Give him the tools.
Encourage him on his journey. Never lose faith in him. Stand by his
side. Teach him as
much as you can. Watch in delight as he soars far beyond everyone's
expectations. Everyone's except yours and all those who joined your
belief along the way!

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