You've Got A Friend In Me

Autism has helped me have more appreciation in the value of a good friendship.

Growing up, we moved around a few times so I never truly felt rooted in school and thus I wasn’t a ‘popular’ kid. I tended to hover on the outer fringe of many social circles.

Throughout my teenage years many friends came and went. Some friendships were good, others bad, though I certainly didn’t see it at the time.

Thankfully the bad friendships naturally weeded themselves out. Some good friendships changed when life events eventually got in the way. Many times I think about those good friends that I lost contact with and I often want to pick up the phone and see how their lives turned out. Subconsciously, I think I want to see if any of them are affected by autism as well.

Over the past few years I’ve had the opportunity to meet hundreds of people affected either directly or indirectly by autism. I find it easy to bond with them.

We’ve become fast friends with many. And my wife and I have relied heavily on many in our support groups for advice, sharing successes, failures, and the occasional rant.

I liken it to dating. But it’s like jumping ahead 15 dates into a relationship, there’s a certain “understanding” that’s been formulated. I personally tend to have a bit more respect for them than I would for a total stranger in which I hold nothing in common; for I know what their daily struggles are like.

There is the history with them that is all too familiar, financial difficulties, strained marriages, constant worry and fear, all of us wanting nothing short of the best for our child.

They’ve been a great comfort.

As far as Mason goes, I often wonder if he will ever establish any lasting friendships in his lifetime. He has no friends to speak of, and he’s either blissfully unaware of that fact, or completely content with it.

He’s not currently bothered with it either way.

It’s my hope that he’ll one day be able to build some good friendships and place value and trust in them, and that he’ll carry these throughout his life.

There’s something very comforting about having good friends that have your back.

It makes you feel rooted, able to weather any storm.

Such as Autism.