A Glimpse of Autism in the Year of Covid

I’ve been replaying the past year in my head over and over a lot lately. A whole year consumed by covid.

What a whirlwind. What a ride. This crazy virus consuming a large portion of our time and energy. 

It’s been fast and it’s been slow. There has been so much confusion intermingled with delicate moments of pure clarity.

It’s been a year of more anger and separation in our world, yet one of so much love and community.

There’s been stress. Anxiety. And so much change. Pivoting on a dime. Daily it often seems. 

A lot has changed for our little family, yet not much has changed at all.  I think lots of special needs families feel that statement.

We’re accustomed to not fitting in. Living stuck inside our homes at times when it feels like the rest of the world is living and thriving and celebrating and moving forward. 

We’re living, too. It just looks different. Sometimes two steps forward. But there are always lots of those painful steps back. Especially in the past year. With all the chaos and change and disruptions to life. But we’ve already gotten pretty used to that in our worlds.

Sometimes we’re stuck in developmental phases with our kids for prolonged periods of time. Sometimes the judgment feels like too much.

Home is safe. Home is a retrieve. Home is convenient. So being stuck sometimes felt crazy comfortable for those of us so used to it.

It’s where we know how to cook the foods our kids will eat and know the routines they need to avoid the dreaded tailspins of disregulation. 

It’s where we find contentment in the simplicity of what we know and the inevitability of love in surrounding ourselves with the goodness of those who understand one another. Because we live it together every day. It’s our normal. 

Call it hiding if you want. 

But it’s our safe little space that’s become comfortable because we know how to navigate it. That comfort often slips through our weak grip every time we leave home and the outside becomes the unknown. The unpredictable. And our kids are forced to tackle a world they sometimes don’t understand with people they struggle to relate to. And people who sometimes don’t tolerate them. 

This past year has shed light for me. Through the division I see because of autism. Special needs. Because of covid. Because of politics and religion and injustices. 

Light on how I’m capable of being part of the change I wish to see. To love others and to serve others and accept others every chance I get. And to dig deeper into my roots and values to remember the criticality of doing good. Choosing well.

Working hard. Loving harder.

Today, I choose perspective. 

Gratitude for the steps forward. And so grateful for the steps back, too. The ones that made us stronger. The regressions that taught us resilience and how to practice a new kind of hope we never needed before autism. Or covid. Or the unique division so many are facing.

We have choices. 

I choose to be kind. I choose to seek out and attempt to understand the opinions and actions and differences of others, regardless of whether I understand. Especially if I don’t understand. I choose to love. 

This past year has been hard. It’s been eye-opening. It’s been humbling to submit to the lack of control we truly have. And how much faith we need to be happy and feel hope. 

I have all the faith in the world that lots of goodness is to come. Both because of this hard year… and in spite of it.

All big changes start in our own homes. If we focus on our true values and what’s most important. And letting go of what’s not. 

Simplifying that can be hard. But so worth it. And can bring so much peace to the chaos and unknowns both in the present and in what lies ahead.

Choose hope. Choose peace. Choose kindness. Choose acceptance. Choose love. The best is yet to come. Have faith. I feel it.

Written by, Lynn Reasons

Lynn is a school nurse and covid public health nurse. She navigates her autism journey alongside her best friend and husband, Derek, and their sweet, eight year old son, Jackson. Her passion is helping parents through the beginning phases of diagnosis, being a support and helping them build their village. You can follow her blog on Facebook at Navigating Jackson’s Journey.

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Finding Cooper’s Voice is a safe, humorous, caring and honest place where you can celebrate the unique challenges of parenting a special needs child. Because you’re never alone in the struggles you face. And once you find your people, your allies, your village….all the challenges and struggles will seem just a little bit easier. Welcome to our journey. You can also follow us on Facebook, subscribe for exclusive videos, and subscribe to our newsletter.