A uniquely different kind of girl. Mari had one of those personality that sticks with you. If you’d met her, you remember her for the spunky little thing that she was. She rarely got upset but when she did you heard about it.
She’d be playing with a toy and every seemed to be going fine when all of a sudden she’d scream at whatever it was she was playing with or doing, then either throw it or destroy whatever it was she was making.
I know so many children who have autism have meltdowns on a regular basis. I think this is where Keith and I were pretty lucky. It’s almost like it was uniquely Mari. Did she have them? Yes, but here’s the thing. They were so infrequent. The times I remember the most were when we were in a store and she’d either see the book section or the DVD section of the store at WalMart. She knew exactly where they were. If we didn’t stop in there so she could look at the cases or books, she let us know by screaming and sometimes even literally throwing herself to the floor having a fit.
Mari may not have been able to communicate very well but she did have limited communication abilities. She could let us know when she wanted or needed something to drink. She was able to pick the DVD she’d like to watch. She’d pick a book that she wanted to read. She even made sure that at night if she didn’t have her white bear in bed with her that she point to it and yell, “Bear! Bear!” to make sure to let us know she had to have it.
When I think of unique I think of Mari. I’m so blessed to be called her mom.
Mari’s last Christmas, only four days before her eights birthday as well as the move we made from DeKalb to Burbank, Illinois. Wasn’t that smile contagious. 🙂
