Autism! PDD our! Asperger syndrome! ADHD! High performance! Under running! Delayed! Hearing these words about your child can be overwhelming. They can devastate you to the core. The good news is you DON’T HAVE TO! Let me tell you why.

It doesn’t matter. That’s how it is. It just doesn’t matter. If you really want to help your child, keep reading. I’m serious. Don’t be like the thousands who wish they had “lived” this concept sooner.

Imagine for a moment that you have a newborn. He is simply perfect. When he is two years old, his fingers are so long that they look strange. You go to a renowned doctor and ask him “What’s wrong with my son? Why are his fingers so long?” The doctor smiles and says, “His son has a condition called spindle fingers. He has a natural gift for playing musical instruments. Many dream of having this talent.”

You are absolutely excited and can’t wait to share the news. You run home but on the way you stop to buy a toy xylophone, piano, drum kit and flute. He sets them down when he gets home and proudly watches as his boy touches each one. You don’t care if others think it just sounds like noise. You’ve got a budding musician on your hands and he’s practicing!

As the months go by you encourage your child to play instruments. He gets a little older and expresses his preference for the piano. You take it to piano lessons, listen to famous pianists, and maybe even go to concerts. You explain to your son that his fingers are long because he has a talent for playing the piano. Your son plays the piano beautifully. He is proud of his fingers and his talent. You are proud of your sound.

You meet the doctor a few years later. She proudly tells him about her son’s piano skills. He grins broadly and says, “I made it all up. There’s no such thing as a condition called spindle fingers.” “What?” you yell “that’s impossible. My son is an excellent player.”

“Sure it is,” says the doctor, “It’s called belief. You believed in your son’s fingers. You believed in his talent. You rooted for him. It didn’t matter how many mistakes he made. You hardly listened to them because you knew he was on the path to greatness. His son felt his belief. He saw it in his eyes. He felt it coursing through his being. It inspired him. Every time he looked at his long fingers, he thought of his talent. He was proud of himself. He knew that could do it. Your unwavering faith inspired him to be the best he can be.”

My advice to you is this. Forget about boxes and labels. Ignore judgments. Your son is fascinating. His child is a unique and wonderful being who is incredibly special. Give him the tools. Encourage him on his journey. Never lose faith in him. Stand next to him. Teach him everything you can. Watch in delight as he soars far beyond everyone’s expectations. That of all but yours and that of all those who joined your belief along the way!