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them and realize that they are just like everyone else. They just have a harder time expressing their thoughts.” It’s a struggle that many families hope to rectify. At the Autism Shines website, pictures and descriptions of kids with autism are posted in just such an effort. Each picture has a description like, “Meet Charlie...he loves drawing, Legos and trucks. He loves unconditionally and can light up a room with his smile. This is autism.” As Laurita says of Nicholas, “Autism is just a small piece of who he is...My son is a very loving, affectionate little boy. He loves hugs and kisses. He is very smart...my hopes for my son are the same as any mother would want for her child. I want him to be accepted for who he is, graduate from college, be able to live independently, hold a job, have a career, communicate and build relationships with others, fall in love, get married, have children.” And just like with her hopes, Laurita’s fears for her son are like those of any mother, “I worry that he won’t be able to do all of the above. I worry about him being bullied one day. I worry about what would happen to him if something happened to me and I couldn’t be there for him.” Fortunately, both Nicholas and Laurita are surrounded by a supportive network of family and friends. “Having everyone working on the same page helps a lot,” Laurita said. Laurita has educated those surrounding her son, explaining autism to those who weren’t familiar with it. In return, her extended family has been extremely supportive. “They give each of my kids the time and attention they need individually...they are respectful of Nick’s diet and schedule,” Laurita shared. While it’s been said that having an autistic child can create family tensions in WebMD among many other autism resource sites—from sibling resentment to strained marriages—Laurita has found that, “As far as family goes, it has brought us all closer together.” Adding, “My husband and I are completely on the same page. We have a common mission to recover Nicholas and raise awareness. We each established our individual roles in the beginning after his diagnosis.” As for Nicholas’s siblings, they “didn’t Jacqueline with fellow Real housewives of new Jersey stars caroline manzo, melissa Gorga and Kathy Wakile Jacquelinelaurita.com The Boardwalk Journal | April 2013 | 39
40 | The Boardwalk Journal | April 2013
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