April 5, 2023
Grandma’s Return After Months Apart
‘He had a snack and went right in and pulled the covers down for a nap. He must have been up early this morning. He is one happy child.’
That’s the text I got this morning from my mom. Cooper’s grandma.
If you follow our story you know that Cooper has been waiting for his grandma to come home from Texas for nearly four months.
It’s been very hard for him. He loves her so much. And he doesn’t quite understand all the ins and outs of wintering somewhere warm.
We’ve been counting the sleeps. We’ve used calendars and timers. We’ve negotiated and FaceTimed and redirected and rewarded.
There have been tears. Trouble sleeping. Frustration. And anxiety.
See, I don’t have anxiety myself so it’s hard for me to understand. I say that I am anxiety adjacent. I belong to a boy who struggles with it.
It steals him away sometimes. Like a song he can’t get out of his head. A roundabout he can’t get off. A loop that never ends.
It’s been extra challenging the last couple of days. As if the needs and wants entirely consumed him.
But, this morning we packed his suitcase. Socks and shirts and pants. His toothbrush. Bandaids for the owie on his arm. A queen sized snuggly blanket. And his kindle.
And to grandma’s house he went.
She said he got there, had a snack, and immediately went to sleep. Which to you and I probably sounds funny.
But remember, autism and anxiety. The parts that we don’t always understand. The parts that take control from time to time. They released their ever so tight grip on my yellow haired boy.
The song ended. The roundabout showed an exit. The loop stopped.
And now he gets to rest.
He told me he’s going to stay three sleeps. I don’t believe it but we will see.
Now I’m the one counting the days.
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.
