by Ren Huff

Created on: November 09, 2008

There is nothing like having an Autistic child. Because it is a fairly knew medical discovery, parents are not armed with enough information to be prepared for what lies ahead of them. And so it has been for me.

I have an Autistic daughter that has kept me more alert and anxious than I ever thought I could be. I love my daughter dearly but more than once has she brought me to my knees with an opened mouth and speechless.

The earliest memory I have of some of her outrageous antics is when she was 2 years old. She didn't like people coming up to her and starting a conversation. If they did she would cry or scream. Although, if she wanted someone's attention (usually a stranger) she would make herself known. For example, we were walking through a store and she would run up to any stranger and latch onto their leg. She would wrap her arms and legs around that person's leg and sit on their foot.

Now, mind you, this is a complete stranger. The stranger looks at me as if to say "Who are you and what is this child doing? And what am I to do now?" I, in my embarrassment, try to pry my daughter's death grip off the person, usually with little luck the first time. Once I get her off I then try to explain this unusual act by saying "It is her way of saying hello." Unfortunately this antic happened more often than I want to admit. She has done this in stores and restaurants. You try holding a tray of food while a 2 year old comes from nowhere and latches onto your leg. My lovely daughter would always end her little antic by looking up at the stranger and with a big smile say "Bye!"

Then comes age 3. At this age my daughter's moods would change so quickly that no one could keep up. For example, we were at a local restaurant. We had just sat down with our food when a table of elderly folks caught eye of my daughter. My daughter locked eyes with them and smiled. The elderly folks were gloating over her when all of a sudden.... oh yes, here it comes! My daughter had turned her head away from them only for a moment when she all of a sudden went from cute little toddler to the demon baby from hell. She swiftly turned her head toward the folks and with the most evil look said, "I hate you!" Oh my! I didn't see that coming. I knew she could cry and laugh all within a minute but this was not expected. You should have seen the looks on those poor old folks' faces. Their mouths dropped and they quickly turned away.

We finished our breakfast as fast as possible. I didn't want the constant

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