Just today, I was driving with my beloved husband and we were talking about some of the bigger challenges we’ve faced as parents. A thought occurred to me, so I shared it with him. I thought that the accumulation of stress and trials could be seen from a couple of perspectives: a growing, slippery floor beneath your feet, a stormcloud of fog surrounding your face so you can’t breathe, or a cumulative stepladder that grows under you and helps lift you ever higher with every challenge to meet the next one. Yes, you didn’t plan this autism parenting journey, but your perspective matters, too. Coping and resourcefulness is everything.