Family with autism embraces laughter — and chaos
by Beth
If you missed it, an absolutely beautiful essay in yesterday’s Washington Post describes a mother’s love for — and appreciation of — her son Owen, who has autism.
My favorite line from the essay:
How absurd, how absurdly delightful, to be drawn into Owen’s world and yet still stand outside it, appreciating its contrast to the typical one.
The essayist, Wystan Gladish Simons, goes on about the importance of laughter in Owen’s life.
It’s important to know that Owen laughs a lot himself. He seems in some way to understand how silly things are even when he is the one obsessively drawn to do them, such as collecting the flatware and putting it into the bed, the tub or the trash can. I am sure that I couldn’t laugh if he didn’t
Never fear, though — the essay isn’t one of those saccharine-sweet pieces about how families with autism should just laugh off their troubles. This essay is more real than that. That’s why it’s so beautiful.
I can’t always laugh anyway. Plenty of the things he does just aren’t funny.
Like so many other good pieces of writing, this one is best read in its entirety. Take a minute and click on the link to the Washington Post essay. Trust me — you’ll be glad you did.
February 15th, 2019 at 4:06 pm
I WANT TO KNOW IF YOU CAN HELP WITH ME BECOMING A CAREGIVER