You sound like me 10+ years ago. I also have 2 children with autism, one high functioning and the other not. My lower functioning child, also happy, smiling a

You sound like me 10+ years ago. I also have 2 children with autism, one high functioning and the other not. My lower functioning child, also happy, smiling and in his way affectionate, is now 18, 6'3 and about 240lbs. We went through some rough times when he first hit puberty, and he can still have some pretty scary tantrums, but mostly he's a giant gentle loveable boy. So far life has not taken his happiness and I don't see that changing anytime soon. Can't say it will work out the same for you, but I just wanted to say that it can happen.