Before the world goes Blue.
Before I get on my soapbox and preach awareness, and acceptance and action.
Before April comes and Autism is everywhere…
I needed a day without.
So today, I aimed to live as Autism free as possible.
Today just was. There were no schedules. No expectations.
Just Mommy and Son.
We went to a local children’s museum. One that historically has been hit or miss. On a whim, we saw an IMAX film in 3D about the ocean. EB loves 3D movies. I, on the other hand, typically fight nausea as my eyes try to adjust to items jumping off the screen at me, and the loud noises are anxiety producing. It didn’t help that there were eels in this film. Eels that I will dream about eating my nose off forever thank-you-very-much.
EB held my hand and fed me popcorn and dictated loudly the whole movie. Which I don’t think anyone minded because it wasn’t The Hunger Games or anything. I mean, there are no spoilers in the electric eel movie, unless you are me and didn’t realize that there were eels in it.
After the movie we went to the museum and played. I do mean played. I played like I haven’t in a long time. I didn’t hover over him. I didn’t try to protect him from embarrassing himself , or tripping over other children or walking into walls. I just let him be…himself.
And he was so happy.
And so was I.
We were happy. We were Mommy and Son.
Oh, we had our moments that were clearly spectrum based. But I winced a bit, swallowed, and moved forward.
Because it’s March 31. It’s anti-Autism awareness day.
We finished and we went to Pizza Hut to eat. Do you remember last time we went to Pizza Hut? But we did it and it was really good.
On the way home, the day disintegrated rapidly. I expected this, really I did. We held it together so well all day. Do you have any idea how hard it is to fit in all day?
Take it from us. It’s really really hard.
Yet, I still count today as a glowing success.
Tomorrow will come. April will illuminate the blueness of Autism. I’ll turn on my light. Because that’s what we do.
And I’ll write about all the things we need to fight for. Because “awareness” should really be the least of our concerns at this point.
I digress, it’s not April yet. So allow me, if you will, the opportunity to relish in the opportunity to snuggle with my little boy…
Just a Mommy and her Son.
