some of the time, we'd give anything for her to 'never shut up'. other times, i watch other kids her age try to talk and talk to me and i don't understand what they're saying and i cant help but be glad i don't have to deal with that with her.

I appreciate your response very much. I'm hoping to submit this somewhere (I probably mentioned that already) and really need someone around who won't just go 'that's so good!' to make me feel special. I completely agree with you on the couple interrupted flow problems. I just wasn't sure if it was me being too picky or something noticeable by someone that wasnt me.I removed the word 'ignorant' from the third line of the sixth stanza. I had actually been thinking a few minutes ago about wether i actually wanted that word in there (for reasons other than flow). It was that thought that had me checking the reviews. I think this makes that line flow a bit better.I'm having more trouble trying to fix the flow of the end of the fifth stanza. I hope you'll read this cuz I have a question. Do you think the rhythm is blocked by the line in general <i>she's four years old, tantrums are expected...</i> being too verbose, or does it just need a tweak at the end <i>her's are a bit more</i>, which (either way) needs one less syllable. I have to change 'a bit', cuz I know that f***s up the flow, but do you think the other part is also distracting?

It might help if you changed the line to reflect what her tantrums are "more" of, like if they're more intense or they happen more often, things like that.  The general idea is fine, but the line itself does seem to invite a bit of tweaking.

Removing the word "ignorant" from that line did indeed help with the flow.  The word was implied in the people's "contemptuous glares" and the fact that they "don't understand" anyway.  I'd still tweak that line a bit more, though, as although the flow is improved, it isn't quite what you've achieved in the rest of the poem.

Please understand that with my comments I'm not trying to be condescending or any of that other BS.  (I've unwittingly come across that way more than once when I was talking about someone else's work in person, and of course the danger is even greater online.)  I really do think that you've done some good work with this poem, even if I suspect that it might need to be adjusted in a couple of places.  Keep it up; I'll be watching for more of your work. =)

I don't view it as condescending at all. I'm completely sincere when i say how much I appreciate your honest criticism. How am i supposed to make it better if people wont tell me where its lacking? I need someone who will tell me if the flow is interrupted or a word choice seems unnecessary. that's why i have a beta for my fic. my friends aren't quite the 'literary' sort and the most they can do for me is 'that's really good!'' or 'that's funny!'... i really am glad to have someone tell me if there's a problem (the fact that you started with 'i liked this it was good'' definately doesnt hurt, either)

your story brought tears to my eyes. It's very cool, and it gives me great hope that my niece will one day live a 'normal' life with friends as amazing as you.

She, fortunately, doesn't have the anti-touching variant. THANK GOD. I don't know what i'd do... she's 6 and she's just learned about giving 'kisses' just today i got a big sloppy one...

Anyway, like i said, your story gives me hope that there are people out there that won't look at her like she's a freak and shun her, because just 'cuz someone's autistic doesn't mean they're not amazing people.

I agree. I don't think people should be shunned just for who they know or what they are. We are who we are, and we can't change that. We shouldn't have to change it! I'm ginger, and the amount of times I have been called a 'Ginger rat' or a 'runt' because I am ginger is just unbelievable. I don't understand why people who have different colours of hair, skin, or personalities are shunned because they are unique. 'Lain-Angelelique' is another problem for me. Most people can't spell it, even more people say it wrong [ Lane - Ohnge-ell-leek ] and because they don't understand it, it scares them, and they, as humans, naturally respond with cruelty and jibes.

You're right, people shouldn't be shunned 'cause they are different, and we all know that they're amazing!

your story brought tears to my eyes. It's very cool, and it gives me great hope that my niece will one day live a 'normal' life with friends as amazing as you.

She, fortunately, doesn't have the anti-touching variant. THANK GOD. I don't know what i'd do... she's 6 and she's just learned about giving 'kisses' just today i got a big sloppy one...

Anyway, like i said, your story gives me hope that there are people out there that won't look at her like she's a freak and shun her, because just 'cuz someone's autistic doesn't mean they're not amazing people.

I agree. I don't think people should be shunned just for who they know or what they are. We are who we are, and we can't change that. We shouldn't have to change it! I'm ginger, and the amount of times I have been called a 'Ginger rat' or a 'runt' because I am ginger is just unbelievable. I don't understand why people who have different colours of hair, skin, or personalities are shunned because they are unique. 'Lain-Angelelique' is another problem for me. Most people can't spell it, even more people say it wrong [ Lane - Ohnge-ell-leek ] and because they don't understand it, it scares them, and they, as humans, naturally respond with cruelty and jibes.

You're right, people shouldn't be shunned 'cause they are different, and we all know that they're amazing!

Thank You. We're members of Cure Autism Now, I wear one of the puzzle piece wristbands, her checks are C A N... I think we're in every organization we're allowed in. From the second she heard the word Autism, my friend has been reading about it and joining causes for it. (I think one of the first books all me, her, and her mom read was Temple Grandin's book). One thing that we are thankful every day for is that Ginny is a very lovey child. She loves giving hugs and kisses, likes being held, falls asleep on the couch in our arms... If she had the symptom where she didn't like being touched... I don't know what we would have done.She also makes friends easily. Sometimes 'normal' kids ask us why she doesnt talk or plays with something kinda funny, but most of the time they're pretty cool about it. She's in ENF with 6 other little boys and girls, too. So she's not lacking in social interaction.I have ADHD and possibly a sensory problem --  I hate being toucheed, at all in general; my hearing ranges from hard-of-hearing to every-little-thing hearing; I like touching things, walls, objects (just not people). I also feel uncomfortable making eye contact with people. Sometimes I wonder... ADD was the 'popular' diagnosis of the early 90's... if I had been a child today would they have diagnosed me differently?Anyway... yeah. I don't know what I'm talking about.I'm a 21 year old girl from southern california. I did not expect, at this point in my life, to be thinking about toddlers and special education and all that.