Christmas Wishes

I think it's beautiful when a child receives something very special for Christmas. Not a new video game, or Stereo, something special. My son, Steven is 15 years old. Steven still believes in Santa Claus. I tried to tell him a few times over the last 3 years that Santa isn't really a person, but a symbol of kindness. The first time he became angry and called me a liar! He insisted that I take it back, because if I didn't Santa wouldn't come and it would be my fault. So there I was.... disappoint my son, or let him hold to his love for Santa? We put out the milk and cookies...lol... Steve said, "I think I hear his reindeer!" and off to bed he went. This kid, with enough mustache to shave, runs to bed so Santa won't skip him! I did this though. I didn't know how differently the world was to him when he was little.
Every well baby check up he had came back he was highly advanced in everything, for the first year and a half. Then, things changed. He hadn't started talking or crawling, although he did sing. He could sing the song "Nobody Knows" by Kevin Sharp like you wouldn't believe. He schooched everywhere he went, and pointed at whatever he wanted. The doctors accused me of "spoiling" him. They told me to refuse to give him what he wanted until he would say the words. They also told me to make him get himself around where he wanted to go, stop helping him. He was not even two years old!
I didn't listen....LOL... and to this day I am glad I didn't. He was 5 years old when they diagnosed him with Autism. Everything made sense to me then. Autism was just emerging around here back then, and I had recently met a woman that was going through it with her son. I'm way off track now, but it's necessary to understand why today was so awesome! Anyway.
I spent years trying to explain the difference between real and make believe. He once made a cardboard friend, Ted. Ted had to have a car seat, bed, blankets, DINNER! Then, my mom had a house fire, Ted was there. So we made Fred. Fred was bad though. He scared Steve. He said mean things and told him to do bad things. I had to actually "move"' Fred out of the house one day so Steven would come home! He wanted to meet Dexter, from the cartoon Dexter's Laboratory..... I had to show him a drawing and explain that that was all Dexter was, a drawing. It took years to explain.
With all the quirky stuff, there's another side. Steven is a respectful, loving, giving child. He is extremely intelligent, but has limited comprehension. Put him in front of a computer and see what he can do! Ask him the difference between one dollar and a hundred dollars, no comprehension. He also has high anxiety. Fear of heights, water, loud noises, and crowds.
I am lucky to have my son! Recently we found out he is almost blind in his right eye, currently waiting for the end of the month for his appointment with the optometrist. Crossing my fingers.
So, with all that said. Last year, I covered my inability to deliver his Santa list with the explanation that Santa Clause has so many little kids to deliver presents to, that when you turn 15, it is your mom's job to take care of Christmas. I was disabled four years ago, and Steven has felt the change from 50K/year to less than 15K/year. He told me last week, " Christmas isn't about me ma, it's about Jesus. I don't need any presents, I would like a card. It doesn't even need money in it. Could we make Santa some cookies just in case he needs to take a break?" "Of course we can bud! And who knows, maybe you'll get a cool Christmas surprise. Maybe just something small...."
I get through my text messages this morning, and there it is! A DM for my son! It was from someone he is a huge fan of, and it was very special to him. And even more special to me. Thank you, you know who you are, and even if you don't think it was that big of a deal, It was MAJOR! He was so excited! He said, "I think I'm gonna cry! This is the best Christmas ever!!!"