Shut up About Your Perfect Kid!

Here it is... the wonderful month of June.  Everyone is getting promoted to the next grade or graduating which means one thing: A whole lot of status updates talking about how AMAZING their perfect kid is.  How their incredibly super smart child has maintained a 4.0 GPA, has been on the dean's list, is going off to a super expensive college on a scholarship, has won this award or that recognition.  Well give me a second to brag about my IMPERFECT child! 

Just to make y'all braggers out there WISH your kid was as awesome as mine, here's a quick list of things I thought about while taking inventory of God's secret blessings in Autism.  In no particular order:

1. Emilio NEVER talks back. 

2. Stickers make him happy.

3. Elmo makes everything better.

4. Fountains and faucets provide HOURS of entertainment.

5. He doesn't care if his clothes come from Nordstrom's or Target.  It doesn't even need to match...as a matter of fact you can put a dress on him and he'd be none the wiser.

6. He doesn't need or want any new video games, or the Wii, or PS3.  He's happy playing with measuring spoons, bubbles, and picture frames.

7. Emilio will NEVER drink and drive.  He may actually never drink OR drive which for me means better sleep knowing he's safe in bed and my car is still in my driveway.  Which leads me to...

8. Emilio will NEVER take my car for a joyride.

9. He will never leave to be with his in-laws for Thanksgiving or Christmas.  He's mine, forever...or until God wants his angel back.

10. Emilio tells it like it is!  If you're a bad cook, he'll let you know it asap.  You can trust he's being honest.

11. Emilio NEVER lies.

12. Emilio never steals either...not purposefully anyway :)

13. He will never knock up his high school girlfriend...odd, but hey, kids are crazy.

14. Emilio has no concept of money, which means he never asks for a DIME!  Unlike my two other pocket drainers.  One of them even pulls out teeth so that he could tax the tooth fairy!

15. Emilio doesn't care if you're brown, black, or white, short or tall, fat or thin, rich or poor...as long as you give him attention he'll be your most loyal friend. 

16. Emilio always notices when I change my nail color and he likes every hue.

17. Emilio never says "are we there yet?" or "I'm bored".  I don't plan on teaching him the sign for that either.

18. He doesn't care that I sing out of tune.

19. Emilio can spin just about anything.

20. And lastly, Emilio never takes a good park for granted.  He enjoys the bucket swings as if it were his first ride, every time. 

Truth be told, he never takes ANYTHING for granted.  He hands out kisses and hugs as if they were going out of style. He loves us almost as if he knew that tomorrow isn't guaranteed. 
Emilio, at almost 4 years old, is brighter than any dean's list or GPA could ever measure.  He is PERFECTLY IMPERFECT.  Just like everyone else.