11 Things I was Surprised to be Thankful for after my Child was Diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome

It may sound strange but I'm glad my child has Asperger's. It's not something I would have picked for him but since he has it anyway... I've come to appreciate quite a few things that I didn't realize I would be thankful for when we first got the diagnosis four years ago.

So in the spirit of listing things we are grateful for at Thanksgiving here's my top 11, a nice prime number :

1.   It’s not fatal. I am still blessed with a happy, healthy child.
2.   Because it’s hereditary, I know there’s nothing I could have done to prevent it.
3.   I have an extremely intelligent child who will be smarter than me if he’s not already.
4.   My child explores his interests thoroughly with passion, fervor and focus.
5.   He holds me accountable for the things I say I will do and keeps me on schedule.
6.   I live in the age of Google and can help him find the answers to most of his questions.
7.   Peer pressure to be "cool" doesn't phase him and girls don't distract him.
8.   Growing up together, his brother has learned empathy towards all kids who are different.
9.   He is honest, reliable, and follows the rules to a fault.
10. Some of my best friends are people that I have connected with because our children both have Asperger's.
11. I see the world totally differently because of him.

Did I miss anything? Add to my list in the comments below!

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