New meaning to "helicopter" parenting

My child was diagnosed two years ago as on the mild to moderate end of the spectrum. In the following months all I could do was give a new meaning to what "experts" on parenting term as "helicopter" parenting. I obsessively studied, no, analyzed why he did things in a certain way and not the way I understand and have become familiar with,having had to raise two other children before him. I even received formal training to help me nurture all aspects of his development. I am still somewhat that way. I am very keen about learning what current research is on autism, how parents can help their children at home even while waiting for a diagnosis or after a diagnosis, strategies and tools to deal with everyday situation. I think I have good reason to pat myself and the rest of my family on the back for contributions we have been making as a team to the advances I see my son making both at school and at home. There is no cure for autism but it gives me a lot of hope for his future.
But then again, there are many parents and families out there struggling out there with all that and tons more. The challenges I am talking about regarding my child, I must admit,have nothing on what they have to do to battle autism in its severity 24-7. These are parents and siblings who are in a world of their own along with a member in the family who tests their love and patience at times and more often than not, fills them with frustration at not being able to break into that inner world in which their loved one with autism lives. In all honesty, I don't know what it's really like in that world but I know that if my son did not have this diagnosis, I would have never known how special, intricate, intriguing and complex the world of autism is. My family and I would have gone through life without ever seeing this aspect of life. So two things today - one, I thank God for the special ASD membership card our family received when our son was born in 2003 and two, I give applause to all parents and families of children on the spectrum for the amazing work they do with their loved one/s each day.