heart and appreciate the innocence of his soul? In that moment I knew that I had to be strong, smart, and resilient for me and my son, Oliver. This was my test. This was my assignment. My life in corporate America taught me to think outside the box and find answers when others settled for the status quo. I’ve never let an employer down, and I refused to let my son down. That day I made the decision to settle in to my new reality. Each day was a learning experience for me. Oliver would get upset if a puzzle piece didn’t fit just right into the other shapes. I could relate. If my life did fit exactly how I expected, I became irritable. There were also days when Oliver was just the happiest kid on the planet. He would laugh when the doorbell rang or when his favorite song played over and over. I could relate. I felt immense joy when my son looked at me and just smiled. His eyes seemed to tell me that he loved me, and I have to be honest, I felt it. There were also days when the world seemed to be crashing in for him. Going out in public was a challenge. Crowds and noises irritated him to the point of non-stop crying. The noise level was something that he just couldn’t process. Our excursions into the public became few. I could relate. I have to admit that I’ve always enjoyed being homebody. It’s peaceful, and my home is my haven. Some days are super special. When Oliver turned three, I started to see a glimmer of hope. We were in the kitchen, and he was eating a hot dog. He offered the hot dog for me to eat and looked directly at me and said, “Dad”. Normally, he just pointed, but this was the first time he called me “Dad”. Don’t tell anyone, but my eyes started leaking. All I could do was hug him. This was my son. This was groundbreaking. This was a good day. I find myself growing as a person, as a man, and as a father. I’ve learned that Oliver is not just a child living with autism. He’s a little boy that is simply growing and learning one step at a time like all of us. I’ve also learned that I’m not just a single parent. I am a father and an advocate to an amazing child. Every day I have to keep going. I have to be resilient. There are no days off. His progress depends on me showing up daily. I choose to be optimistic. I choose to be patient. I choose to keep learning and adapting. Becoming a father has been a journey. Being Oliver’s father has taught me that being strong isn’t about overcoming struggles, its’ about never giving up. And for him, I never will.
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