As a parent with an autistic adult son, I speak from the heart, and from what I have observed and learned, and certainly have failed at throughout the years in my dealing with my son. I am not trying to sugarcoat the situation, or for that matter scare a parent that is facing the same fate as my own. My ultimate goal here is to just hopefully try and represent the true nature of my own situation, and my relationship with my son. I can’t speak for anyone else. Each situation, each child is different, what may work with my own son, may not work for your own child. I find this to be true with my step son, who is autistic. So you have to adapt your tactics. I simply trying to give you perhaps options.

Has it been an ideal situation to have to raise a autistic son? Absolutely not, not by a long shot. Has it been tough to be forced to raise him day in, and day out? I truly had been a challenge on so many levels. My patience has at times been pushed much further then I care to mention. Would I want to finally be experiencing a house devoid of kids, be a empty nester? Absolutely. Do I get tired of this heavy burden each and every day? Absolutely! Especially as I’m getting older. Have I ever resented my child for being autistic? That goes with out saying. Do I think that’s its fair for me or my son for being autistic? No! Does it make me a bad person for thinking this way? Absolutely not. I would be lying if I had said it was all good. Furthermore, one listening to this, has absolutely no right judging me, in less they are going through this themselves. Besides, I think just how good, and well adjusted my son is, speaks for itself. Being a parent of a child with special needs can be a thankless job, but it can be so rewarding at the same time.

This is the 20th book that I have now written, I have never done a completely non-fiction book until now. Especially when it's about my own life, I’m a pretty private person normally. But I realized that it was time to write this. My goal of this particular book was first and foremost to express things from my own point of view about raising Christopher, and what the effects of him being autistic have been on this journey of his life, as well as on me, and my family. I sincerely hope that I provide some useful advice to a new parent of an autistic child, or a special needs child, and hopefully given you some encouragement. I wanted to speak the truth, the good times, as well as the bad times. I also wanted to convey the story of my sons life. I just so happen to think that it's pretty damn interesting. I cover his life up to the age of 22. So this story of his life is therefore only just beginning. A work in progress if you will. The rest will have to be told many years from now. I am certain there will be a lot more for me to share by then. I’m sure by then Christopher will have blown me away with what he has accomplished since this book was written.

I want you to all understand me, when I say this, as bad as it has been at times having Christopher. I feel truly bless and honored to have Christopher as my son. He truly is an amazing person. He is a gentle, very loving person, with a great sense of humor. I at times have a lot of fun with him. We both love taking walks along the beach. He’s very knowledgeable about many interesting subject. He deeply cares about others. He has an innocence that we can all benefit from. He generally is a very good person. His presence has truly enhanced my own life, each and every day.

I could play the imaginary game. I don’t know what kind of a son that I would of ended up having if he would of not been autistic. But I can’t miss, or even regret something that I never had in the first place. But what I can do is appreciate, and love the miracle son that I was given.