We are all a little bit Autistic

You might be a behavior specialist if

1.  You try to teach parents parenting tips when you have never been a parent . . . and you are 26.
2.  A kid peeing in the toilet is the result of sitting with them in the bathroom, sometimes for hours. And it is the most deserving of a victory dance.
3.  You feel totally at home when you walk into some client's houses.  And you get a little slack about professionalism because you feel like you are best friends with the family.  At others you knock on the door while praying "please have a shirt on, please have a shirt on, please have a shirt on. . ."
4.  You feel like Nanny McPhee because when the kids want you around is when they don't really need you anymore.
5.  You are a ninja at avoiding bites, hits, slaps, kicks, snot, spit, permanent markers, any type of beverage, being peed on etc.  Unfortunately, all of these have happened to me once, but only once.
6.  You literally witness miracles.
7.  You spend your nights praying for your clients and then the next day at the park they have a natural opportunity to succeed at the very thing you have been praying about.
8.  You get to see how other kids can be angels.  Some are so patient and never question why this new friend can't talk.  They play with them anyway.  Or why he throws dirt, or why he eats the dirt.  They play anyway.  Or why he has a "friend" who is an adult and plays with them.  They play anyway.  Or why the child is freaking out over climbing on the playground.  They play with them anyway.  Those are some of the days that I cry because I am so grateful for the other kids in this world.
9.  Out of the blue one of your clients might say, "Megan, I love you."  Which is not any less valuable when the next sentence from him is "I LOVE THIS GAS STATION," in a much more excited tone.
10.  One of your clients tells you over and over again that his favorite treat is the white jelly bean.  After i juggle for him for a few minutes, he says, "GREAT JOB!! You deserve a treat."  And he digs through the jelly beans and says, "here you go," as he hands me his favorite white jelly bean.  Oh bless.
11.  You start developing what we call stims (any thing that stimulates the body senses including clenching muscles, banging head on the wall, hitting yourself, flapping, hitting your ears etc.) I kind of have these now.  When I see nature and beauty I get over stimulated and clench my body and say in a weird voice "IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL!"  Oops.

My job is somedays really difficult.  Other days I can't believe I get paid to have so much fun.  I do what is equivalent to occupational therapy, speech therapy, (although I am not as skilled as the pros are)  social skills, and most of all, curbing the tantrums.  I never get angry with them, which I hope continues when I am a parent.  I love them so much.  Working with these children has taught me so much about the worth of a soul and the worth of each person.  It has taught me that we can always change.  WE CAN ALWAYS CHANGE.  We can always be better.

I saw this collection of photos the other day.  The photographer is a dad and the model is his son who has Autism.  Some of the poses in these pictures I have seen my kids do a million times.  And almost all of my kids would rather be naked at ALL times.  http://www.timothyarchibald.com/#/echolilia/echolilia%20-%20personal%20project/6/