Do you know this woman?

She is an airline passenger who fails to take the flight attendant's advice concerning oxygen masks. Instead of putting on her own oxygen mask first as instructed, she tends to her small children traveling with her, making certain that they are safe. When she finally thinks to reach for her own oxygen mask, it is too late. She has saved her children like a good mother, but lost her own life. Now she is no help to anyone.

If you know the mother of an autistic child, you recognize this woman. It may be you.  It certainly is me. Too often I find myself with a single focus--making sure that my son's needs, which are many, are met. I may spend hours each evening just helping him with homework  (two hours of convincing and 15 minutes of actual work). This is in addition to working a full time job and being a wife and mother to two children. Some nights I don't even eat or sit down. My first break comes when I go to bed, always thinking about all of the things I haven't been able to complete that evening. 

I try to remind myself that if I am too exhausted to care for myself, then I'm not much good to my children either.  However, I continue to push myself, always thinking that I still have a moment or two left to reach for my own oxygen mask.