A La Ma Ma

For six years, I've been fortunate enough to be involved in The Princess's life.  During the course of those six years, we've had our ups and downs, all through the magnifying lens of her autism. 

My girl possesses a brand of brutal honesty rarely seen in the human race.  She operates without a shred of inhibition or self-consciousness.  She wears her heart on her sleeve.  Unbridled joy can be closely followed by agonizing overload or disappointment. 

In short, you don't have to be a neuropsych to see what my girl is feeling. 

Though she is nonverbal, The Princess communicates things in her own unique way.  I have never doubted her love for The Hubbs and myself, not even for a moment.  How could I, when she makes such concerted efforts to show us each and every day?

Still, I admit to being just a tad envious when I hear her cousins or other little ones telling their parents that they love them.  I know...I do my best not to compare, and I'm happier than I've been in my entire life, but there it is. 

This morning, I walked into The Princess's room to wake her, and I ended up plopped on the floor next to her bed.  Every day, I make a point of sitting down with my girl and telling her just how much she means to me.  With all of the challenges she will face in her life, I want no question about this: she is special, she is kind, she is smart, and she is cherished.

As I've done every other day of her life, I told my girl in no uncertain terms that she is loved. 

And, there in her room on a Sunday morning like any other, my life changed.  Because just after I told her that Momma loves  her, she looked me in the eye with the sweetest smile on her little face and said, "A la ma ma."

A la you, too, baby.  You have no idea how much you mean to me.  Thank you for - once again - pointing out exactly how big the little things can be if we just slow down and take the time to experience them with all we have.