The Things That Matter

Cooper 16

One of the things I adore the most about my son Cooper is the way he gets excited over things.

Things that most people may not think are all that big of a deal.

Like a cow in a field.

Or when it rains.

The wind in his hair.

A tractor.

When we drive by Target.

A train t-shirt.

People who look like Santa.

Halloween decorations tucked away in a closet.

Photos of mom and dad as awkward teenagers.

And when his brother gets a haircut.

Of course Cooper needed to smell his hair first.

And touch it.

Then gasped.
And high fived.
And hugged.

A doctor once told me that people with autism are oblivious to their surroundings. That they don’t see the world around them.

Funny. While he may not see everything he sure can see the things that matter.

And he sure knows how to make a person feel special too.
#autism

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Kate Swenson

Kate Swenson lives in Minnesota with her husband Jamie, and four children, Cooper, Sawyer, Harbor and Wynnie. Kate launched Finding Cooper's Voice from her couch while her now 11-year-old son Cooper was being diagnosed with autism. Back then it was a place to write. Today it is a living, thriving community of people who want to not only advocate for autism, but also make the world a better place for individuals with disabilities and their families. Her first book, Forever Boy, will be released, April 5, 2022.

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