As the New Year approaches, I would like to extend a special wish to each and every one of our extended autism family. It is customary on New Year to wish you a year filled with health and happiness but this year I want to add another wish. May you have the strength to overcome your fears. Over the years, I have found that it is our fears that hold us back and stand in the way of our success and therefore our happiness.

Many years ago before I started home-schooling Ethan, I lived in constant fear of the school holidays because I knew that I would be responsible for “entertaining” Ethan 24 x 7. Once I decided to home school him, I was still afraid of what I would do with him but instead of focusing on the fear, I focused on problem solving. If I had not taken that first step, Ethan would never have made progress and we would still be stuck in a world full of despair.
So, my wish for you for this New Year is to have the strength to take that first step towards whatever you wish to do because from now on, you will be traveling the road between who you think you are and who you can be. The key is to allow yourself to make the journey.
Happy New Year to you all!

By Dalia Shkedy – Ethan’s Mom