You all the know the old version, so here is the Madmother reworked one:
An ASD Night Before Christmas
'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the home
Not a meltdown had happened, not even a moan;
The stockings were hung wherever they could,
In hopes that old Santa would soon hit our ‘hood;
The children both nestled like angels asleep,
As I sat exhausted, having a weep;
The year almost over, appointments all run,
Therapies halted, routine now undone.
For most ‘tis the season for all to be jolly,
In an ASD house to lose order is folly.
And so as I sat, wiped the tears from my face,
I knew that for morning I must myself brace.
He had made me happy, with his pixie-ish glee
The evening was joyous, as the Eve just should be
But tomorrow his senses would hit overload,
And a Christmas Day meltdown was sure to explode.
Lost in my thoughts, stiff drink by my side,
A sudden strange noise drew attention outside.
I walked to the door filled with visions of drunks,
Flung it wide open expecting some punks.
Imagine my shock, when to my surprise
There stood old Saint Nick before tired eyes!
I rubbed them quite hard, then I rubbed them again
As he held out his gloved hand, said “Hello friend”
In shock I did shake it, invited him in
And asked if he wanted some of my Gin?
“No, right now you need it a lot more than myself."
I downed it, surrendered the glass to his elf.
Resplendent in red suit, white beard down his front.
The lounge creaking loudly, he sat with a grunt.
His elf dropped beside him, the sack at his feet
My jaw still hung open, in sheer disbelief
He had a broad face and a big round belly,
That shook, as he spoke, like a bag full of jelly.
“I wanted to drop by in person tonight
Accept my apologies for the sudden fright.
I usually come in when you are all asleep,
To check on the children and spread magic to keep
You all happy and safe and sound for the year
But I have this letter that you need to hear.”
From his red pocket, he pulled out a sheet
All crumpled and wrinkled and covered in sleet.
He unfolded it carefully, well-read as it was,
Pulled out his spectacles, placed onto nose.
He cleared his dry throat and then lowered his chin,
“Dear Santa, well that’s same way they all do begin,
How are you, ready for Christmas this year?
I tried to be good, but wasn’t real good I fear.
My name is Boy 1, I have ASD
Things get quite hard when you have to be me.
See, my Mummy she loves me just as I am
She saves me from falling and tells me I can
Do anything I want, in this great world of mine
She works hard to assist me and allows me to shine.
But she gets quite tired and cries sometimes too
So I have a big favour to ask just of you.
This Christmas please don’t bring me any new stuff,
Mummy, she makes sure I've more than enough.
This Christmas I don’t want my Mum to be sad
So can you please help me to stop acting bad.
I know it is hard when she sees all my fears
So, could you please help me to stop screams and tears?
I know you can do it, I do really believe
In the magic of Christmas, so please could you? Please?
I will do my best to be good next year too,
Oh and I’ve left out some milk and cookies for you.”
He folded it back up, mopped the tears from my cheeks
“You must truly be proud, that boy is unique.
I’ve had tons of letters, is it a million or ten?
But not one of the others I brought back to them.
I think he has granted your one real Christmas wish,
So I will bid you adieu and a very Merry Christmas.”
With that he turned, without a sound he was gone
Leaving me here filled with hope and so strong.
So believe in the magic, when nothing feels right
And
"Happy Christmas to all,
and to all a good-night."
A very Merry Christmas to you and yours, and may 2011 mark the best of yet to come.
