May 16, 2007 - 9 years old. I am marking this date. Today is the day I heard the words “I love you,” from The Boy for the first time - ever. Yes, ever. It seems a bit late to be writing such a thing in a baby book - I don’t recall a space for filling in “date my autistic son finally said I love you…and unprovoked even!” in our baby book anyway. So here I am. Documenting.
I was walking down the hallway past his room, he came bounding out behind me. He hugged me from behind and said “I love you.” Just like that. All nonchalant. And I heard many trumpets in a fanfare, thunderous applause, and fireworks - right there in the hallway. “Thank you! I love you too!” I said. He scurried off, and I waited until he disappeared around the corner before collapsing into a pile of stunned disbelief.
17 responses so far ↓
1 // May 16, 2007 at 10:42 pm
What a milestone. Excellent. Hearing those words makes parenting that much more worthwhile.
2 // May 17, 2007 at 1:41 am
How completely cool is that? Utterly sweet. Thanks for making me all gushy inside after my rant…I can always count on you
3 // May 17, 2007 at 4:19 am
Wow. That is all I can say. That is a long wait.
4 // May 17, 2007 at 4:42 am
WOWIE!! that is WONDERFUL!!!!!
5 // May 17, 2007 at 8:04 am
Just….WOW! I have a 7 year old that says I Love You many, many times a day and has since he could talk. That you are hearing it for the first time at 9 is incredible to me. How awesome that must have been! I got the chills just reading about it!
6 // May 17, 2007 at 11:06 am
*tears*
Many tears
How sweet, what a memory to treasure!
7 // May 17, 2007 at 12:17 pm
that is so amazingly wonderful!
8 // May 17, 2007 at 12:45 pm
Wow. All these years without hearing it from your son. Again, I’m astounded by your strength and can only imagine how incredible that moment was for you!
9 // May 17, 2007 at 3:04 pm
Collapsing in a heap is right.
I can just picture that.
Awesome.
10 // May 17, 2007 at 5:18 pm
Maybe he will say it more often now… maybe saying it is just a social skill he never picked up on before? But you know he DOES love you, even if you never hear him say it again!
11 // May 17, 2007 at 6:28 pm
I actually just clapped my hands and said “Yay!”. I can’t imagine how hard it was for you to keep your cool and not bounce off the ceiling when he said that.
It’s so awesome, though. It’s sad that it took so long, but so promising for him, and such a wonderful reflection of how much you’re doing to help him become a good and loving person.
Congratulations to you, the boy, and the rest of the family.
12 // May 17, 2007 at 7:23 pm
Oh.my.gah. How sweet!
Did you cry? Maybe you were too shocked..
I cried the first time Simon said, “Mommy”.
When he was like 2 and a half.
Yeah. A bawling mess, I was.
Ah… and the interview I promised you.
On the way! I promise! So sorry for the slackerness.
Will get the questions to you!
Promise.
13 // May 17, 2007 at 8:46 pm
That’s incredible! Congratulations on experiencing the best thing in the world!
14 // May 18, 2007 at 12:43 pm
Very sweet. Very very sweet.
15 // May 18, 2007 at 6:51 pm
these 3 words will make anyone day become brighter, happier…
16 // May 21, 2007 at 3:03 am
How sweet….and how shocked you must have been. I hope he repeats those words often.
My son only recently said those words. I thought waiting almost 3 years was rough–his speech was delayed, and for awhile there were concerns that he might be on the spectrum.
17 // May 21, 2007 at 5:31 am
Here’s to many more, “I Love Yous!”
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