When my daughter was diagnosed with autism, I was told she wouldn’t have friends. In fact the exact words were, “Well, now that she has autism you don’t have to worry about things like popularity or teen pregnancy.” Those words cut deep. They stuck with me. I could care less about popularity, but what mother doesn’t want her child’s life to be witnessed? I prayed for friends. For people who would unconditionally accept her. Eight years later, my daughter has developed those relationships all on her own. She picks the people who have the purest hearts and she holds them close. Friendship looks different for her than it does for me. A brief hello and parallel play sometimes fills her cup more than hours of conversation. But look at her here. It’s her birthday. She doesn’t care about the present in her friend’s hand; she cares about her. And that’s the gift I prayed for. #autism #autismspectrum #disabilityawareness #girlswithautism #autismmom #neurodivergent