My son Siddhant is a 13-year-old who enjoys singing and dancing, and searching for new recipes online, which he shares with his me. He's eager to learn new things, spend time with his friends, and has a knack for theatrics, too. Siddhant was two years old when I noticed delayed milestones, which was confirmed to be due to autism.
For a single mother raising a child with special needs can be tough without the anchoring a good institute for special needs can provide. Over the years, Siddhant has had to change multiple schools, till we found the perfect one. Many schools calling themselves as institutes for special kids have no system in place to teach and manage such children.
Now, that we've finally found an institute that can offer what an autistic child needs, I can see our lives changing for the better. Siddhant now looks forward to school every day to meet his friends. He loves learning new things, even maths!
Seeing him grow, I am also learning to let go of my over-protectiveness towards him. I realise that for him to become independent, I need to trust him more.
He already manages some daily tasks such as brushing his teeth, bathing, and getting ready for school on his own.
Allowing him to go on school trips was a big decision for me and a giant step for Siddhant too. He was never a group person and wouldn't interact with others readily. And here he went with his friends on an educational trip learning about a new city. I'm surprised, but elated, with his progress.
A good school can do wonders for children with special needs. I credit his school for a lot of the progress Siddhant has made in recent times.
Though every now and then we come across people who have difficulty accepting that Siddhant is different from others. He has been tagged as a 'nuisance' by some, and then there have been instances when parents take their kids away from him. It's hurtful but we try to move on. Children are more open to Siddhant than adults.
Then there are moments when he misses his father. He is very sensitive, and at times, struggles to manage his emotions. I once found him hiding behind a curtain, crying, because he was missing his dad. A little later, I find Siddhant consoling me instead, saying he'll always be there for me. Moments like these assure me that the two of us will be just fine.
As told to Pooja Patel
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 "Stuti-Gupta-Siddhant")
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