When Calliana was about 2 I would bring up the sensory issues she would have, she didn’t like certain textures (mashed potatoes, eggs, certain meats & other food items). She would strip down to nothing but a diaper, now we are at short sleeves only. She would eat her hair, I would literally bring this up every doctors visit and would still til right before she was diagnosed. I would always bring up the constant GI issues to the specialist asking if it was normal for her to constantly be rocking on her side, holding in poops. She pooped in a pull up til age 4, it was so hard still holds it rocking on her belly. And any change to the environment she would hold her poop til that person was no longer visiting. She would do things that other kids should fear, but be so scared of a simple ant. She doesn’t make eye contact for more then a few seconds during a conversation, and I always would wonder why she would shy away when she would speak. Her emotions weren’t always verbal we still struggle, she always draws her feelings and we have to guess them. The meltdowns would be so out of control, we would go to a store she would always take off touching everything in sight, I failed to realize she was overloaded. I never notice her arm stims until recently, or the constantly twirling around. I always new her texture issues with the same foods, or cereal if she doesn’t like to is what she goes to for comfort. I knew she would eventually be diagnosed with sensory issues but Autism never crossed my mind, it doesn’t change who she is. She’s such a sweet caring girl. She’s the first one to wipe anyone she loves tears, she’s the first one to use her manners, she is the first one to notice when something is off, she is so gentle with her sister, she is the first one to jump whenever her sister cries, she knows our routine, she is the first one to call me out if i forget something. She is just so gentle and loving, and full of her own different ways. I love that she wants to be the outcast, I love that she wants to dye her hair, I love that she has her own cutting edge style, and always wants to be active she may have a different ability to you but she was made perfect for our home. It just means we have to work a little harder to adjust to her needs, and with my therapy & working on myself I will unlearn the ways I was taught to be a parent & to be the parent she needs. So if you can’t walk share, support, donate, to help other moms like me. There’s so many uneducated people, and the research and resources on autism are very limited. Autism isn’t just one thing is a wide spectrum of many different things, each person with autism has a distinct set of strengths and challenges but it doesn’t change the fact they’re human too. I think so many people need to educate themselves because if I had known what I do now I could of gotten her the help a lot earlier in age, I wouldn’t be struggling to get the therapy for her now. And I wouldn’t be so judgemental of the mom in the store who seems like she doesn’t know how to control her kids, because I am that mom. I always felt like I had to explain her diagnosis but there’s not much to say besides I am learning to adapt to her needs now. Sometimes I have to let the meltdown happen before I figure out what set it off. Educate yourselves because it will put your mind in a whole new perspective it has for me. Everyday I am learning something new and that’s what this journey is for us learning to adapt to our daughters needs. We are doing this walk for Team Calliana, and any other children special like her