I thought today I would write about some of the challenges that I have been facing lately. I only do this because I want people to understand some of the surface issues that parents of children with Autism face. I won't get into issues of heartache and pain - it's too hard.

The F---ing bus. My son Luc gets picked up every day at 7:30am to go to his treatment centre. At first I felt really fortunate that the school he goes to (a regular Catholic School) would arrange busing to his treatment centre. But, after some contemplation, I thought that fair is fair. Lots of kids get bussed all over this city, why should Luc be any different. The problem is this:

Luc gets picked up at 7:30 but can't arrive at school until 8:45. So multiple kids get on and off the bus while Luc sits there for an hour and a quarter. He can't talk to so he can't talk to the other kids. Something he wouldn't likely do anyway because of his condition. I asked his school principle to look into the situation, and they revised the bus schedule. So now he's getting picked up at 7:50. So in an ideal world he would be on from 7:50 to 8:45. 55 minutes to do a 20 minute drive I think is fair enough. Only thing is - he is now getting to treatment at 9:01. So the trip is still as long, and he is late every day. I can't begin to tell you how valuable the time in therapy is, so to lose 1 1/4 hour a week is really a bad thing. I'll try the school again, but I doubt anything will happen. I asked the bus driver if she knows of any kid that is 0n the bus for more then an hour and she said she did - Luc. I'll likely have to drive him everyday and then show up late for work everyday. This is just one small challenge that we face.

The F----ing B12 shot.

OK I admit it - I'm a coward. I just can't bring myself to learn how to give Luc a shot in the ass twice a week. Luc's blood is full of chemicals. Part of the detox process is giving him a B12 shot - so twice a week my wife puts cream on a little spot under a band-aid to num him up and 45 minutes later, she sticks him with a needle.

At first we did it while he was sleeping. I was describing the process to my friend Mark Brown who had this to say:

So let me get this straight - you go into his room in the middle of the night with flashlights and you pull down his paints and give him an injection!! Could you make it any more scary for the little guy? Why don't you wear ski masks while your at it!

Anyway - I can honestly say I take part in every aspect of his therapy except for the dam shot. I don't know why I can't get over this block. I digress.

The shots are expensive and not covered by OHIP or my drug plan. I spend about $600 a month on pills, oils, speech therapy, shots and powders. Not that there is any cost I wouldn't pay - it just wears you down sometime.

Enough venting. I like to think about what my son can do, not what he can't. He has been way more verbal lately and he seems to be understanding better. He is going to the toilet on his own, and is a constant source of happiness for me.