Celebrating our Mums

This year, Mother’s Day feels extra special. We are celebrating this occasion after months of social restrictions, with the knowledge we will now be able to travel short distances to visit loved ones.

At AEIOU, we are enormously fortunate to work closely with families and catch a unique glimpse into the depth of a parents’ bond, the level of support, bravery and sacrifice of mothers, grandmothers, aunts, and other close carers.

Across our centres at AEIOU, children are making wonderful creations to sprinkle their Mum with love and remind them just how special they are. In every way, all across our centres, we celebrate our Mums.

Being a parent is one of the best, and hardest things we’ll ever do in our lifetime. For Mums raising a child with autism, it can present unique challenges that can only be understood through experience. So this post is for every mother, or the fathers who are both mum, and dad, the grandmothers, the aunts and the people in each child’s village who strive to give their child the best they can, every day.

Your unwavering devotion and strength is inspiring. Your team at AEIOU sees you, and remembers you and your family long after your child grows and moves to their next education setting. Just ask

Sharni Clark, our senior teacher, who used to manage our Camira centre. She remembers her first AEIOU Mother’s Day well.

“We made personalised key rings for Mother’s Day that year. I took the time to record a video of one of the children matching letter beads to his name and then threading these onto string to make the keyring. When I showed the child’s Mum the video, she was so touched and became quite emotional. She said she couldn’t believe how lucky she was to have a beautiful supportive family around her that cared about her child as much as she did. She was overjoyed that her child was able to participate in these activities, as she thought that his diagnosis would mean that he would never be able to do these things. She proudly showed me the keyring attached to her keys and said that her child was so excited on Mother’s Day to give this to her. Years later, that parent still has that keyring attached to her keys.”

This year, AEIOU celebrates 15 years of sharing moments like these. The joys, the triumphs, the heartbreaks. They’re all special and are such a very important part of the journey.

To all Mum’s with children with autism, you’re amazing. Never doubt that.

You are strong

Even in your most vulnerable and trying moments, you find the strength to get up, move forward and ask “What’s next?”

You are perceptive and intuitive

You communicate with your child in ways that often transcend language, and you make hundreds of decisions each day about activities, food and environments that help steady the course for your child’s day.

You are brave

You own your authority and are your child’s champion, advocating for their needs and rights.

You are present

Not only do you work hard every day to support your child, you know the magic of accomplishing a goal that at one time seemed so distant. You celebrate these wins with a joy that may never truly be experienced by other moms.

You are hero

Though you may not like this title, you are admired and respected by friends and family. You inspire us.

(Poem published by Autismtherapies.com)