Our Children ARE Worth Celebrating

I want to introduce everyone to a very inspirational young lady from Scotland. I met Sam on Facebook and continue to be amazed by her positive outlook on life and how she so willingly advocates for other children with autism and promotes awareness to anyone who will listen. I see a lot of similarities between Sam and my daughter Kristie, who is just embarking on her journey to show people that just because you are on the autism spectrum, doesn't mean you aren't talented and can have a great life. :-)

Congratulations Sam. I look forward to hearing more of your music in the years to come and hope I have the great honor of getting the chance to meet you one day.

You can enjoy listening to Sam's music by going to her MySpace Page found at: http://www.myspace.com/samanthaemusic

Sam's bio.....

Samantha is 15 years old and has Autism with a pervasive communication disorder. Sam started singing before she even learned to talk and though she still can't communicate very well using speech... she makes the effort even if it doesn't come out right. She says she is not the best singer in the world, but she loves to sing and believes she has been very lucky to have the chance to share the songs she likes to sing.

Sam credits her success to the love and support of her family and friends who wouldn't let the "Autistic" label limit her potential. Most of all what Sam believes would be great is if her music helps raise "Autism Awareness" and makes people think differently about children who have Autism.

First Post

This is my first post and there is so much I want to share with you, but to be honest I don't really know where to start. I have been on such a turbulent, but exciting journey of self discovery since becoming a mother in 1998. Most of us dream of being a parent when we are little, but never really come to understand how much responsibility raising a defenceless child is. When your child is diagnosed as having special needs, it paints a completely different picture to the one you envisaged as a child. Not only are you unfamiliar with this picture, but in most cases, you have to learn what this means for you all by yourself. All I can say is thank goodness for the internet because it has given us Rainbow Moms a powerful tool to have a voice, stand up and be counted! No longer do we have to take the advice from the medical profession as being gospel, but we are empowered to make our own informed decisions and to start asking questions we weren't previously able to ask.

This blog belongs to all the wonderful Moms out there who are wanting to share their journey with me. So, please write to me and let me know what topics you would like discussed. I also love those funny stories that only Rainbow Moms understand like how cool it is when your child tells a lie for the first time or how exciting it is when they have their first fight at child care. You know what I mean!

Take care
HAPPY RAINBOWS, Allison