On Friday afternoon Bethany returned home from school with a certificate for “always being so determined in all her focused tasks.” This certificate made me smile. It nearly made me cry. It was an answer to prayer.

That certificate flooded my brain with memories of Bethany and her determined behaviours all through toddlerhood to now at just over 6.5 years old:

The child who I had to strap into her booster seat in order to brush her teeth and hair.

The child who thrashed about and screamed while I endeavored to brush as gently as possible.

The tornado who spun away from me or arched her back when she didn’t want to be held.

The child who seemed to have superhuman strength to wriggle free when I was holding her to keep her safe.

The child who kicked and writhed through nappy changes and ran away butt naked because she didn’t want to wear a nappy.

The child who fought hair washing with all her might.

The child who lay down on the floor and refused to move during walks and in shops when she’d had enough.

The child who slammed the toilet lid down repeatedly when she refused to toilet train.

My wild child.

My determined child.

The child I could never reason with.

She sees only her own way.

Bethany’s autism exacerbates typical childhood behaviours, making her overwhelmingly difficult to handle at times.

My prayer was that this wild determination would one day be channelled. That it could become a good characteristic and not just an overwhelming frustration for her weary parents.

That prayer is being answered. On Friday she brought home a certificate for her determination in her school work.

That’s my girl. She makes us proud.