Sound of a Sunset
Griffin makes a lot of noise. No. I mean A LOT of noise. If he is not sleeping there are always loud sounds emanating from him. We have the maniacal laugh and other verbal stims. There is the sound of him slapping his torso for hours on end. Most of all there are the questions. If he weren’t so cute I would swear the relentless questioning is some sort of KGB plot to drive me insane.
Sometimes, I want to tattoo, “Yes. I like elevators and Wilford is awesome,” on my forehead to at least cut out 15% of the questions I get every hour. “No. We are not moving,” and “To the bathroom. I am going to the bathroom,” would eliminate about another 9%.
Considering the relentless noise, when Griffin is quiet we get nervous. It sneaks up on you. Like the other evening when Mrs. Big Daddy and Lil Sis were out and the boys were left at home. I was doing a crossword and heard Griffin go to the kitchen with the stated purpose of getting a drink of water. I heard him fill his cup and then …. nothing. For about 45 seconds I heard nothing. He had not left the kitchen. He wasn’t giggling. I got no questions. Silence.
I went to the kitchen to investigate and there stood Griffin, staring out the window at a magnificent sunset. He turned to me, as lucid and “in our world” as I’ve ever seen him and said,
“Daddy. That’s a beautiful sunset.”
It was, without a doubt, the most beautiful sunset I had ever seen. Before I could answer him, Griffin was off to his room to start giggling and, I’m sure, to think of new ways to ask me the same questions I’ve already answered thousands of times. In the meantime, I stood in the kitchen, crying, for what seemed to be an hour.
© 2010, Big Daddy. All rights reserved.
Claire
November 4th, 2010 at 8:29 am #
Wow. Nature can make miracles happen for us.
Amanda Broadfoot
November 4th, 2010 at 9:03 am #
That is so beautiful. So so beautiful. Just when we think we have them kinda figured out, they go and surprise us in ways that just expand our hearts to the beautiful breaking point. So happy for you.
K FLoortime Lite Mama
November 4th, 2010 at 10:17 am #
I am in tears too Big Daddy
Rachel Cohen-Rottenberg
November 4th, 2010 at 10:29 am #
Wow. I wonder how many other experiences of exquisite beauty Griffin is having that he’s not communicating to you. Quite a few, I’d imagine. We don’t exactly live in a culture that encourages simply being and experiencing moments like this; everyone is too busy running around doing important things.
I wonder whether that’s why Griffin asks so many questions. Perhaps he’s just trying to keep up with a pace that isn’t his.
Cristiana
November 4th, 2010 at 11:09 am #
I understand you so much
Papa Bear
November 4th, 2010 at 12:31 pm #
This is why I get p!ssed off at the extreme end of the autism acceptance crowd–the ones who claim that a cure for autism, if it became available, or even therapies and treatments to mitigate particularly troublesome symptoms would only rob people on the spectrum of their unique personalities and turn them into NT robots. Yes, Autism is a part of who my son is, and has been one factor in shaping his personality, but in allowing it to define him, they are cutting off an important part of who he is that has nothing to do with autism, and is, in fact, limited by it.
Laura
November 4th, 2010 at 12:58 pm #
OH! Thanks for sharing that story, Big D. Lovely. Just lovely.
Alain
November 4th, 2010 at 3:44 pm #
Wow. Just Wow.
Mindee@ourfrontdoor
November 4th, 2010 at 8:07 pm #
A moment to treasure.
Stimey
November 4th, 2010 at 9:36 pm #
Beautiful.
Lynn
November 4th, 2010 at 10:32 pm #
OK, that made me cry and I really never cry at blogs. Plus my meds don’t usually allow me to produce tears anymore. The kid knows jaw-dropping beauty when he sees it.
Lynn
November 4th, 2010 at 10:39 pm #
I just tweeted this post for you. Why aren’t you on the twitter machine? Or are you and you’ve blocked my crazy ass?
jillsmo
November 4th, 2010 at 10:42 pm #
This is beautiful!! (Thanks Lynn for tweeting)
Barbara
November 4th, 2010 at 10:43 pm #
What Claire said. Moments like that cannot be made to happen. And yet, it seems everything ever done contributed to it happening. (I frequently comment nonsensical stuff, too.)
Tweets that mention Big Daddy Autism » Blog Archive » Sound of a Sunset -- Topsy.com
November 4th, 2010 at 11:23 pm #
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Emily Willingham, tmwhickman and jillsmo, Lynn Hudoba. Lynn Hudoba said: Beautiful post that will make you happy cry by my friend Big Daddy #Autism http://bit.ly/dBf6yY #specialneeds #ASD [...]
Cheryl D.
November 5th, 2010 at 12:54 am #
What a beautiful moment!
lifeasthemotherof4
November 5th, 2010 at 12:54 pm #
Anonymom
November 5th, 2010 at 11:26 pm #
Big Daddy, this was beautiful. Blurry monitor here.
Hattie
November 6th, 2010 at 8:31 am #
found you via Goldilocks and the three bears and working through your posts which I have been really enjoying. I am just at the start of my parenting journey with my little boy who is somewhere on the spectrum. now that I read this post i am all welled up and don’t know whether to thank you for that beautiful story or punch the screen. I am having some conflicting emotions at this time. (-: please pop over to my blog if you have the time. all the best to you and your family.
Big Daddy
November 6th, 2010 at 5:27 pm #
@Everyone: This was one of the most satisfying interactions I’ve had with Griffin (ever) and I am glad I was able to share it with you all.
@jencull (Jen)
January 9th, 2011 at 1:28 pm #
awww, I am so glad you did, it is a really heartwarming moment
Can I just ask, what is the torso slapping thing about? My fella has started doing this just in the last forthnight or so (ssshh, is Lynn around to see the word fortnight) and I am not sure why, sensory maybe?
Thanks for joining in Blog Gems. Jen
Big Daddy in Parents Magazine? - Big Daddy Autism
April 6th, 2011 at 10:37 am #
[...] Sound of a Sunset Tweet This Post Posted by Big Daddy | Categories: Uncategorized | Tagged: autism, awesome, Dad Life, Hollywood, humor, shameless plug | Enjoyed this article? Subscribe to the full RSS Feed [...]
Autism & Oughtisms
April 8th, 2011 at 1:20 am #
That was so very touching and special, thank you for sharing it. I do believe I’ll come back and re-read this when it’s all getting too much with my little man (5 year old with autism), so I can feel good and hopeful all over again
Blog Gems 15 - Big Daddy Autism
May 9th, 2011 at 12:04 am #
[...] fortnight’s installment of Blog Gems just screamed for me to re-post Sound of Sunset. But Lynn promised to go all Sasquatch on me if she was ever subjected to that piece of fine [...]
One Rich Mother
May 9th, 2011 at 1:39 am #
Thank you for sharing that, what a beautiful story.
Sound of a Sunset « Autism Speaks Official Blog
November 22nd, 2011 at 10:00 am #
[...] the contrary, it can be quite humorous and inspirational. You can read the original posting, ‘Sound of a Sunset,’ [...]
Lauri
November 25th, 2011 at 3:02 pm #
Beautiful! That’s so sweet..those moments make the more challenging ones fade…
J. Lorraine
February 11th, 2012 at 9:36 am #
What a beautiful story. Thanks for sharing.