So we were thrilled our little girls was born. At 18 months she was memorizing books, she loved books. We would read them to her and she would memorize the words until she could go through the book on her own. Just before her younger sister was born she turned 2 yrs. old. She requested Cat in the Hat, in hardback. Yes, we just thought strange but we kept everything quiet about these odd behaviors. She also loved to do repetitive activities that would keep herself entertained for hours. One example that I can express is at Easter she would sit for hours and open and close the plastic Easter eggs you usually fill with candy. My husband and I just thought we had a very bright daughter. As time progressed she began having difficulties with social and physical contact. By elementary school she would be mean to her sister, bang her head against the walls in frustration. She would want less and less physical touching. But she was acing school and wrapped up in books constantly. I tried several psychologists. She finally figured she would just stop talking to the doctors completely. It some how worked. I just never gave up on her. She would be very mean. I often slept outside her room to be sure she would do no harm. I learned she had what I call idiosyncrasies that if kept in check our family could function. Time marched on and she progressively got better about social situations. She has always been as we finally got a diagnosis a High functioning Autism person. My daughter graduated high school last year, first in her class of 637. She is now in her freshman year at Boston University. She is thriving on her own at the dorms. Our whole family lives in California. She still, even with me, has trouble with hugging. When she left for college she said "Mom you never gave up on me, and for that I will never give up on you." She awkwardly hugged me and said goodbye.

Kimberly Martel
Huntington Beach, CA