This may sound odd coming from someone with two adult children with autism, but the last few weeks autism and its affects have been a big topic in our lives. Sometimes, I think we are so used to our life and our schedule that we don’t really “think” about autism, but it’s been big news this week. Actually, the big news has been that both kids have made amazing strides and are doing such cool things. Autism isn’t winning this week at all!
Bright Spot #1 – Casey got to be Cinderella for their Halloween dance and wear her dress to the workshop the next day. She had asked to be Cinderella for 2 months and couldn’t stop smiling as she got into her beautiful, glittery (ugh – i don’t do glitter at all! 🙂 ) dress. She posed for several pictures before dancing at her “ball.”
Bright Spot #2 – Rob found a clown costume he wanted to wear. We had planned to be characters from Cinderella (Rob, Mandy and Cory were mice, I was the fairy godmother) but he wanted to wear this outfit so bad. And it was a mask! He has NEVER worn a mask before, but was so excited and giggled as he got dressed for the dance. (I hate clowns – I mean, I seriously do NOT like clowns and this was a creepy clown mask! But – he was happy!) He only wore it for a while at the dance (he got too hot), but everyone commented on how cool he looked.
Bright Spot #3 – I had to take Rob to the ER Tuesday. And no, that’s not the bright spot! The bright spot was that even though he hates hospitals, strangers and new places, he was wonderful! He sat quietly and waited, then let the doctor look at his ears, even though he wanted our family doctor. He waited while the nurse got his meds ordered and then asked to go back to the workshop instead of going to Grandma’s house.
Bright Spot #4 – Casey passed out candy to the “widdle” kids who were brave enough to trick or treat in the rain. She giggled and rocked back and forth as she watched them walk up to the porch. She was so excited! This was the first year we had tried doing this, as she as always asked about trick or treating and I wasn’t sure she would be ok with passing out candy and not going herself. I’m sure some of our neighbors would be okay with her dressing up and trick or treating at their houses, but I have finally gotten her to understand she isn’t going, so I don’t want to do that. She lasted about half an hour, then decided her iPad was more fun than more little kids. 🙂
Bright Spot #5 – Rob tried two new foods this week! He didn’t like either of them, but he was willing to take a bite and try. I think the pudding texture is just too hard for him, but he just didn’t like the crackers.
Bright Spot #6 – I picked them up early Thursday for Rob’s follow up appointment with our family doctor. We had to wait over half an hour (a rare thing in our doctor office!) but they both sat so quietly and patiently in the waiting room. He got giggly at one point and she was rocking in her chair, but in no way did they disturb anyone else waiting. When we got to see the doctor, Rob answered his questions and showed him which ear was bothering him. And then told him we were going to Hobby Lobby and the Dollar Tree. And Casey added McDonalds! (We had a really nice evening! No anxiety song, despite the crazy, rainy weather and the change in his routine!)
Bright Spot #7 – They both volunteer at different places around town with staff from their workshop. Friday, Casey went to a day care while they children were sleeping to clean toys. Her staff was so excited, they called and told me all about how she smiled and carefully wiped every toy and the bin the toys were in before putting everything back quietly. The pictures they shared are so precious to me – Casey has a huge smile on her face! (And she didn’t even try to take any Sesame Street toys home with her! 🙂 )
Honestly, I needed a week of bright spots. Life has been crazy busy and I’ve felt like I was just dealing with stuff and not really enjoying all the little moments that we all need to see every day. I’m usually the kind of person to always look for the bright spots in every day. I thank God for the happy little moments that we can all find each day if we look hard enough, but lately, even though I’m thankful for those little moments, I haven’t fully enjoyed them.
Today, as I write this, I’ve loved remembering each moment. I look at the kids and think how proud I am of them – how hard life is for them at times, but they still laugh and smile about little things. Like a new coloring book and a pack of clay from the Dollar Tree or McDonalds for supper. A costume they love – seeing Mandy and Cory – going to Wal-mart with Mandy and having supper at their house. Tracie is coming tonight and Casey can’t stop giggling about that.
And I know that they (and autism) have taught me so much more than I ever taught them.