"Our daugher is two and a half.  She is lively and energetic.  Our son is four, and he is on the spectrum...." the father stated letting his voice trail away.  I was sitting at an interview with a potential new family.  The mother and father were seated around me now waiting for my response.  We had communicated over the course of several days via email about their children, and my possible employment.  They had of course told me a bit about the children.  Their ages, interests and dislikes had all been shared with me.  The fact that their son was Autistic had not been stated until now.  I had worked as a nanny for four families prior to this time.  I had taken care of many children.  I did not have any experience with Autism.  My first thought was "can I handle this?" I knew little about Autism. 

It is now one year later.  Elizabeth and Jacob are now one year older.  I am now one year wiser.   I have become part of a new community.  A community of parents, caregivers, teachers, and children who all care about and are affected by Autism.  As I have watched Jacob grow over this past year I have become his biggest cheerleader.  Each time he greets me when I pick him up from school my heart aches with pride.  When he independently drew a cow instead of just writing numbers over and over again I wanted to shout from the rooftops.  When he mocked me as I started to ask him to please not climb on the bookshelves I could not have been any happier. This is a battle and we are winning I want to tell him!!! His victorys may seem small but they are so big! Everyday is a new opportunity for us to grow and learn.  Everyday is a chance to make progress.  This is a fight, and we will not be defeated for Jacob is a champion!