Somewhere...

Over the Rainbow...bluebirds fly.
Birds fly over the Rainbow, why then oh why can't I?

Lyrics from my Daddy's favorite song, and one that I dearly love.
sigh.

I finished the Autism Awareness Project yesterday and had a profoundly
UnAutistic moment.

*what if nobody likes it?*

These are the moments when I wish to be MORE like my kiddos instead of having Normal Syndrome.
Since I have NS, I worry about what other people think and whether they will like me, and adjust my behavior accordingly. This seems CRAZY to my daughter, and we frequently have conversations in which she wants to know WHY I would want people to like me if they were going to not like me just the way I was, or care about the things that are important to me.

I am always at a loss to explain to her why I spent an inordinate amount of time trying to please people who are simply not interested, or just miserable in general.

We have a saying in our family...*You can't please all of the people all of the time, and some of the people will NEVER be pleased any of the time, no matter how hard you try!*

So, truth be told, the pattern came out EXACTLY as I had envisioned it, the yarn was a delight to knit, and I'm THRILLED with the finished project. PROUD, in fact.
I'm delighted to contribute the pattern to the project to raise money for Autism Awareness, and hope that someone else will enjoy knitting and wearing it as well...

This weekend there will be a Real Photo Shoot of the project.
I am SO excited about it,
and as soon as I send off all of the files,
I'll post the link to the pattern.

In the meantime, since we are almost at the end of April, which is Autism Awareness month...
please add *Thinking in pictures* by Temple Grandin
to your reading list. She is SO much like my daughter bird, and reading anything she has written
always makes me feel like I have a passport and an interpreter to the Planet Aspergers.

Blessings to you and yours....

Comments

[Wendy]

Yay, Greta! I can't wait to see your pattern!

[Sara]

Awww - I can't wait to see the pattern and photos - Temple Grandin's stuff is an awesome read. And if you're anything like me, having at least SOME examples out there of what you feel and see and think daily re Daughter Bird - it's just really special to have stuff like that available in the mainstream. I hunger for such things in a way...

[claudia]

Your daughter has such amazing understanding.

[Nathania]

Will the pattern be available for retailers to sell in their shops? We'd like some, please.

Sorry I've been MIA. Looking forward to squeezing you tight in Maryland!!!!!!!

[Melissa]

Oh can't wait to see it. My printer is ready for it. BTW, thank you again for doing this.

Hugs
Melissa

[Kathleen]

As Owen danced around his classroom yesterday to the Wiggles, I sighed deeply and said to the teacher there was an innocence in autism that I wish I could share. And it was not worrying what other people think. There was Owen enjoying the moment. I can't wait to see your pattern Greta. What a wonderful gift.

[sUsAn]

I am *so* looking forward to seeing your pattern, Greta! Thank you for adding an 8th book to my library hold list too. :)

[melissa]

Looking forward to your pattern as well.

Have you ever considered puttting together a collection of essays on what you've learned from Daughter Bird and Boy Bird? (not to mention your amazing father) Every time you share one, (like today), I'm so touched. (gah - I always have problems expressing myself through text - that sounds sappy, doesn't it). They resonate in a deep way.... just a thought...

[Jean]

Can't wait to see the pattern, Greta! And boy... can I relate. I often look at Daniel and wish I could have his way of thinking. Their curse is also their gift. Actually, I wish a lot of us "Normies" could think the way they do....

[Rachael]

You are perfect.
xo
MSWF!!!!