Here is an article written by a new friend of mine.  She has started an Autism site called Foggyrock.

The Kiss
by shannonj www.foggyrock.com An Autism Site
Life is a bit crazy lately in our home. Our brave boy, Wynn, came home 6 weeks ago from a stint in a residential treatment program. Along with a tough transition home, he is full-swing into puberty, mad that he ever had to leave home, testing his boundaries multiple times a day ("You can't make me" is his current mantra) and also started a new school program upon his recent return. To make matters worse, I started him back on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet last Saturday and his physician is also treating his intestinal inflammation with a combination of meds that might not make him feel his best at this time. Without going into the scary details, let's just say that I am begging for bedtime at the end of the day and mourn each new sunrise and the challenges that it promises.

I'm an eternal optimist (to my poor husband's chagrin) and always, always look for the silver lining in every situation. However, I've been hard pressed to find anything to make me smile in quite a few days in a row.

One spark, one tiny spark, though, is the fact that, all of a sudden, I'm allowed to freely kiss my growing boy. Over a year ago he made me promise never, ever to kiss him again. I figured that it came with the age and that he deserved to be treated like a big boy if it mattered that much to him. But the restriction saddened me and I found myself having to very consciously keep my mommy's kisses to myself. So, the other night, when my son asked me to snuggle with him on the couch, I just had a hunch that something had changed. As I leaned close and wrapped my arms around his skinny frame, I touched my forehead next to his and quietly queried, "What would you do if I gave you a kiss?"...

"Do it!" was his immediate response. Nervously, I bent over and pecked him on the neck. I was careful not to make a sound with my lips, but just let them gently touch and then pulled quickly away in case he changed his mind. Instead of the fist in my face that I half-expected, I was pleasantly surprised by a Cheshire cat grin that was well worth the risk.

Unable to contain myself, I called over to my husband to watch and revel with me. Again and again I let my pucker cover his face, head and neck. He squealed in delight and laughed with the ticklish sensation. Finally and appropriately he requested "No more, please" and I found myself drunk from the combination of adrenaline and pure love.

I'm still wiped out before noon every single day, and I often find myself wondering how I will ever manage the tasks ahead of me in raising my son....but every chance I get, I steal another kiss and whisper a grateful thank you under my breath.