Sometimes one of the most difficult parts of handling a life-altering event is not even knowing what needs to be accomplished, never mind what issues should be tackled first. There is no single set plan for any family, no "one size fits all" list of tasks to accomplish first. In this article the author, a mother of two children on the autism spectrum, outlines a few things she wishes she had known to do on the heart-breaking day she received her son's diagnosis. She hopes this is helpful to any parent who is either anticipating a diagnosis or has just received one, or to any family member or friend willing to lend a hand to someone in this situation.