Doesn't Anybody Understand Me?

Parenting a child with Autism has been a challenge and a joy. When our little guy came, we had no experience to fall back on and we had so much to learn. At his young age his intelligence was difficult to gauge and he was labeled severely mentally impaired. He was almost three and considered at a 9 month level in functioning. In the first two days, when he outsmarted me by sneaking the thing he wanted when my back was turned and then giving me a "ha ha" look, I guessed that he was a little smarter than he let on. What he lacks in conventional, measurable IQ, he more than makes up for in cunning and determination. The word, "stubborn", comes to mind.
He had no means to communicate when he arrived other than to bang his head hard on the floor, or wall, or on your chin if you happened to be holding him, when he wanted something. He can now sign for most of his needs and his head is happier for that. He is the hardest, sweetest, child we have cared for. Every day he learns new things and he amazes us, but there are still many struggles and frustrations. On those kind of days, he sums it up like this!