Advice for parents with new diagnosis

If you have a child that has just been diagnosed with autism, or a child that has just been born with birth defects, my advice to you is this: Have faith.

Have faith in yourself, for you will be amazing yourself with your capacity to learn, to grow, to care for your child.

Have faith in others, for you will be needing the help of therapists, doctors, teachers, friends and family. There are so many people who care about you and your child deeply. Seek them and you will find a world of compassion and commitment.

Have faith that what ever force created a world that can have so much struggle and pain has the capacity to bring joy and peace to you and your child.

I also recommend listening to Bob Marley's song Three Birds as often as possible.

Movie recomendation

I have to recommend LARS AND THE REAL GIRL. It is a pleasure to watch, with pleasant cinematography and powerful acting, but the story has more emotional depth than anything I have seen since Little Miss Sunshine. The setting for the story is a small northern town and to my surprise and delight the people of the town are supportive, open minded and warm. Lars is at an emotional epoch and has the delusion that his mail order life size doll is real. What could easily become a sleazy flick with gross out humor is instead a heartwarming and wrenching portrait of emotional paralysis, and the struggle to heal.
I found the portrayal of Christianity in this movie to be unusually hopeful, positive, and endearing. The Pastor at the Lutheran Church gives a sermon reminding his parishioners that the only rule we need to be Christians is to Love one and other. The Church is accepting of Lars and his "girlfriend" and even values the lessons she can teach. In the age of Mega churches with Ted Haggard mega hypocrisies, it is so refreshing to hear a pastor with sweet words.