Happy Birthday Katie

My daughter Katie is 19 years old on the 2nd of May, and I want to wish her a happy birthday. She has led me on such an adventure since she was born; I never realized how she would keep me young yet make me feel old at the same time.

The first thing she did when she entered the world was bite the doctor's hand; I thought that showed a healthy disrespect for authority.

She's always been fearless. When her brother Mikey was at his most 'autistic' when he was very little, people would tell me what I needed to do to make him behave, or point out my deficiencies as a parent. I couldn't go around explaining to every stranger on the street who noticed his oddness what the problem was, or make my friends who didn't understand suddenly comprehend fully.

Once at a family restaurant, I was having trouble controlling Mikey, and a tableful of people began to complain then Mel's sister answered back to them then the exchange got more heated. Katie, just seven or eight years old, strode over to their table, planted herself in front of them, and told them off for their lack of compassion and comprehension of autism. (OK, she was only little so didn't put it quite like that but I've never been so proud. I knew then that she'd be able to handle whatever life was going to throw at her.)

So happy birthday, Katie! You make me proud, but don't start throwing your wet towels over chairs and leaving your dirty clothes all over the floor when you come home for the summer or else I'll have to revise this post....