Christmas is Changing
When I dreamt of Christmas with my daughter, I pictured so many things.
Simple things really. Christmas movies, Christmas shopping, hot chocolate after ice skating. Sure, we can do those things but gosh they are hard or there is almost always a fall out.
The timing of the fallout has changed over the years. I would like to think it is learning to tolerate the outside world or maybe its age.
Christmas isn’t typically a joyful time of year around here. Christmas in general is loud and busy. Two things that are hard for Kya.
The longing for her to get excited for a gift I poured my whole heart into finding didn’t happen in a typical way because the anticipation of said gift was too much.
Opening stockings was stressful and often ended in tears.
I imagine that is hard to process if you don’t have a kiddo like mine.
Over the years I have learned to give her the least desirable things first and let her go at her own pace.
Why the least desirable you may be wondering? If it is an item, she wants then it is game over. Last year it took three days for her to open gifts. She just didn’t care.
But this year is different. Very different.
First, we put our tree up early in hopes of her getting used to it and it not causing anxiety and to my surprise it did just that.
I’ve had many favorite Santa pics over the years but this one is my fav.
We have had the typical screaming Santa pic.
Those are usually my fav but something about her asking how many sleeps until Santa despite how much she may fully understand is awesome. It’s a dream come true for this mama.
Our path is not typical and sometimes that can sting.
If I’m being honest, I am glad I do not have to see all the Santa pics flooded on social media this year.
It’s not just Christmas its every holiday but this one for some reason stings just a little bit more than most.
I wanted my daughter to love Christmas and everything that came with it. I wanted to leave cookies and milk out for Santa and the reindeer, and I wanted her to wake up excited to open her presents.
Over the years some things got easier. She completely understands presents and this year I got one heck of any extensive list!
Going to see the big guy was something I booked a week or so ago but held off telling her until a couple days before. I didn’t want the expectation to take away from the joy.
Santa knew ahead of time my girl would need him calm and calm he was. They really accommodated Kya and I am so grateful for that. He came in quietly with the music faintly playing in the background and he was excellent with her. He asked her what she wanted she told him rose gold iPad and a trumpet. She didn’t miss a beat.
Santa noticed Kya looking at the blocks and he told her it was ok to touch them. He also said she noticed a pattern, so I am thinking Santa knew a little something about Autism.
It was a great experience for Kya and gave this mama a little Christmas cheer. Our Christmas may not look like everyone else’s, but this kid has come so far, I can’t wait to see how she is on Christmas morning.
On we go.
Written by, Jennifer Dunn
My name is Jennifer Dunn, I am the mother of a beautiful 10 year old girl with ASD. Kya and I live in Vancouver, Canada. I work full-time and also manager her team of therapists. Our weekends are mostly filled with therapy, but I am happy to be on this journey with my Bug. I share our journey at https://www.facebook.com/keepingupwithkya/
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