Erin McGregor Shares How Her 8-Year-Old Son Harry's Autism Diagnosis Changed Her Life: 'I Am Proud to Walk Beside Him' (Exclusive)
"Parenting Harry has been nothing short of transformative," Erin writes in a personal essay
Ahead of World Autism Day on April 2, Erin McGregor opens up in a personal essay about how her family has learned to adapt after her son Harry, 8, was diagnosed with autism.
From the moment Harry entered our lives, everything changed. What we thought we knew about parenting, what we thought we knew about life, had to shift. The truth is, we had to accept that our lives would be different.
Our journey with Harry, a boy with autism, forced us to let go of old expectations and open our hearts and minds to an entirely new reality.
Harry’s sensory difficulties turned ordinary experiences into overwhelming challenges. A trip to the local store, a family gathering, even something as seemingly simple as a visit to the doctor — these moments, which most people take for granted, became minefields for Harry. He’s extremely social and craves connection, but crowds, unfamiliar places, and loud environments push him to his limits. He’s non-verbal, but his communication is profound. It’s what I like to call “love needs no words.” Harry speaks to me in ways that reach deeper than words ever could. He speaks to my soul, revealing things I never knew I needed to see.
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Harry has a way of expressing love that cuts through the noise of this world. Even though he can’t speak, his eyes, his touch, his gestures — they say everything. There have been moments when Harry’s quiet presence — his gaze into my eyes — has said more than words ever could. When he looks at me, I feel a depth of connection I never thought possible. He comments on my heart, my soul, in ways that break me, yet rebuild me in ways I didn’t know I needed. Harry’s love doesn’t need to be spoken; it’s felt, deep and real.
This journey with Harry has made me confront my own flaws. I’ve always had a deep need to please others, to meet expectations, to do what I thought was “right.” But Harry, in his pure, non-judgmental way, showed me how to let go of these things. He taught me that my need to please, my tendency to people-please, wasn’t serving anyone. Not even myself. In the quiet moments, when it’s just the two of us, Harry has helped me release the need for external validation. His love is enough. His needs are simple but pure. Harry is the center of our world, and in him, I have learned to embrace what truly matters.
Parenting Harry has been nothing short of transformative. It has asked us to evolve, to shift the way we see the world and ourselves. We’ve had to adjust everything from how we approach family gatherings to how we interact with the world outside. The constant pressure to fit into society’s molds has become irrelevant. Harry doesn’t need the world to fit him. We’ve learned that he needs a world where he’s accepted for who he is, not expected to conform. And we need to be the ones to build that world, one small change at a time.
But there’s something truly powerful in the beauty of difference. Our son’s struggles have made us stronger, more compassionate, and more understanding of what it means to be human. Through the challenges, we’ve discovered the strength of empathy, patience, and resilience. And Harry? He has shown us that love doesn’t have to be verbal to be understood. It’s in the moments of connection, the silent understanding that passes between us, that we find true love.
On this journey, Harry has broken my heart time and time again. But in every piece that’s shattered, he has rebuilt me. He has made me a better person, a better mother, a better advocate for those who are often overlooked and misunderstood. He has shown me the beauty in simplicity, the power in being true to oneself and the strength it takes to love without conditions.
World Autism Day reminds us that there is so much more to autism than what we often see. It’s not about what’s missing, it’s about what’s there. It’s about the depth of connection, the pure love, and the lessons we learn along the way.
Harry’s journey is our journey. He is our teacher, our guide, and the very heart of our family. He has changed everything we thought we knew about the world and ourselves. And I wouldn’t trade this journey for anything.
Our journey with autism has also opened our eyes to the need for a more inclusive world. The truth is, most people don’t understand autism. Many still view it through the lens of deficits and limitations, but that’s not the full story. Harry is a living testament to the fact that autism is not something to be feared or misunderstood. It’s simply another way of being.
The more we learn, the more we advocate for inclusion, the more we realize how much we can all do to support neurodiverse individuals. Whether it’s through patience, education or empathy, we can create a world that embraces everyone, no matter their differences.
World Autism Day is an opportunity for us to share Harry’s story, but it’s also an opportunity to celebrate the autism community as a whole. People with autism are not defined by their diagnosis. They are brilliant, creative and capable of amazing things. By embracing and understanding autism, we can create a world that values difference and celebrates the unique contributions that each person brings to the table.
As we reflect on our journey with Harry, I am filled with immense gratitude. Yes, there have been challenges, but there have also been countless moments of beauty, growth and love. I wouldn’t trade this journey for anything because it has made me a better person, a better mother and a better advocate for all those whose voices need to be heard.
So, as we approach World Autism Day, I ask you to remember that behind every diagnosis is a person a person who deserves to be seen, loved and understood. Harry is my son, my hero, my teacher. And I am proud to walk beside him on this incredible journey.
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