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Julie
Coulter, June 12, 2008
I recently
watched a public television documentary about the life of
President Harry Truman. What struck me the most was his
persistence. As a teenager, he had to work to help support his
mother and sister after his father’s economic failures. In his
twenties, he failed as an investor in a mine and an oil well,
and then returned home to toil for years on his father’s farm.
In spite of setback after setback, he kept working and studying
on his own, because college was out of the question. Harry
waited for years for Bess, his childhood sweetheart, to accept
him as a suitor and then to finally marry him. All his life,
Harry Truman kept searching for solutions, kept trying and kept
hoping. These were the secrets to success that enabled Harry
Truman to become President of the United States.
As the mother of a son who has Asperger Syndrome, I really
appreciate seeing that same persistence in fathers of children
who struggle daily to overcome the challenges of living with
Autism Spectrum Disorders and similar conditions. I admire those
fathers who also keep searching, trying, and hoping. Mothers
appreciate the fathers who work hard to understand their
children’s special needs and keep looking for ways to help their
children learn. Many times, these fathers have to learn new ways
to relate to their children who, in turn, show their fathers new
ways to see the world. Like Harry Truman, these fathers may see
their efforts fail, and they have to pick themselves up and try
a new approach.
These fathers understand that working today to help their
children may not bring results today. But they keep trying to
help their children learn new skills which will result in growth
months and years down the road.
To all persistent and hopeful fathers, thank you, and Happy
Father’s Day!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Julie Coulter and her husband, Dan,
produce videos that support people with Asperger Syndrome and
autism. You can find more articles on their website at:
www.coultervideo.com.
Copyright 2008 Julie Coulter Used by Permission. All Rights
Reserved.
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