Although we had some fun family moments this Fourth of July (check Instagram), this post isn't as shenanigan-y as usual. It's actually a reality check for myself. Many of you may or may not know, my son has autism.
And, for us, some days are good while others, not so much. It's been a little over a year since he was diagnosed. Since then, he's been in three separate therapies. One for speech, one for behavior, and occupational therapy as well. He's been doing great!. He's even about to finish behavioral therapy in a week or two. I'm so excited.
There are times when I forget that Tre requires me to have a different perspective about life. Recently (July 4th) we had the pleasure of being able to view two different firework displays from our third floor balcony. Lucky us. Both Lilly and I were excited about the show. We turned off all of the lights in the apartment, and stepped outside. Tre refused to come out though. He sat on the couch and demanded that the lights be turned back on. I know he's not afraid of the dark, because he refuses to sleep with any of the lights on. I invited him out repeatedly, but he still wouldn't budge. I realized that it was the fireworks. He didn't like them. The last time we saw a display was exactly one year ago. We were downtown, and he hated it. It was loud, crowded, and just too much to handle. But, this would be a different experience! We were alone, and the sound was far away. I was thinking, "He should love this!" Nope!
There are going to be social norms and events that he may hate, while everyone else enjoys them. There are going to be times when he chooses to be apart from the fun. I may feel bad that he's missing out, but at the same time, it's his choice. This experience won't make or brake his childhood, so I didn't force it down his throat. Sure I missed his presence and participation out on the balcony, but that's the harsh reality of it.
Until next time,
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