Sometimes it feels like I post a lot of less-than-happy content here as we navigate our way through this 2e life.  It’s not all doom and gloom – sometimes we get to celebrate the little victories and hold out hope for the future.  This is one of those victories.

Last year we dealt with the birthday party that triggered 2 of my kids into sensory meltdowns. It was a rough go.  It wasn’t fun, it was tough for the kids and for me, and I was caught off guard by the sensory issues.  It made me really sad because birthday parties are such an essential part of our culture’s celebrated milestones, and here was my kid, missing out.  No parent likes seeing their kid missing out and hurting.

Over the last year I inadvertently embarked on a desensitization process for the Engineer.  When I started teaching this art class I knew that it would be challenging for him, but I hoped that by holding it in his safe environment it would be easier for him.  It wasn’t easy, not really, but he worked through it.   After each class ended the kids would play for a bit.  Chaos ensued.  Noise abounded.  People were everywhere.  It was a difficult setting for him.

He worked through it.  And at several points in the year, we expanded the class into a party.  More noise.  Lots of people.  More challenges.  He made it, with flying colors and only a few hiccups.

As I’m prepping for this last class and party of the year, I’m holding this thought in the back of my head: I can’t believe this is happening.  This – a birthday party.  A party, with noise and people and stress and chaos.  A year ago this wouldn’t even be possible.  Today – he’s looking forward to it.  He asked to get balloons for his friends.  He’s excited about the bristlebot robots they’re going to make.  He’s happy.

:wiping away the tears:

Yup, I said happy.  He’s not worried and stressed over this party.  He’s happy and excited.

It might sound like a weird thing for me to cry over, but trust me, it’s a BIG deal!  When you live your life worrying and hoping that someday your child will be able to function in society, something like this …. well, it’s huge.  It’s a moral booster.  It’s a massive shining rainbow pointing to the rest of his life with hope and positivity.

It’s a victory.  I’ll take any victory I can get!

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go finish up a cardboard racetrack for those bristlebots.  Because I don’t want to disappoint my son!