Posts Tagged ‘autism and holidays’
The Perfect Christmas Ornament
The most beautiful ornaments are the ones that were never meant to be an ornament. Looking back we always had big family Christmas celebrations with my husband’s family, celebrating what was and is really important…having a family that loves you for who you are. My husband’s family have always been our biggest supporters, our voice when we were unable to speak, and our spine when we felt like falling. They never saw us as the family with the broken kids but as the family who was theirs and kept doing…
Read MoreChristmas 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…
Read MoreHappiness Looks Different for Everyone
A profound moment for our family was letting go of the picture in our head if what it was supposed to look like. Timelines. Must do’s. Picture perfect moments. Obligations. Stress. I suppose you could say expectations too. We let all that go. It was a hard goodbye. Because as people, humans, parents, we have this picture of what life is supposed to look like. We expect certain things. Big and small. We want things to go a certain way. Holidays are a big one. And autism changed them all…
Read MoreWaiting for Christmas
My love for him and my love for the holidays had to be kept separate before this year. My sister and I could hardly sleep on Christmas Eve, we would cuddle up together in our matching pajamas but we were always too excited to sleep. We would wake before the sun, “sneak” down the steps and have paper and presents all over the living room before daylight. My mom made our Christmas so special, year after year. I’ve tried to do the same. I’ve carried on the same traditions. Matching…
Read MoreSome Hope for Christmas
Holidays have always been big in my family. Christmas growing up was always so busy. You see, my parents were divorced. I was always on the go…being with one parent Christmas Eve, the other on Christmas Day, and seeing extended family as we celebrated. I always dreamed of the day I’d have my own family and we could sit and enjoy the holiday, decorating the tree. Being in one place for the whole holiday. Fast forward to now, and my dream Christmas may still never happen. Not because we aren’t…
Read MoreI Choose to Find the Joy at Christmas
As a child, did you ever wake early with anticipation? Were you one of the children who rushed to see exactly what was under the tree? I was. Patience was never a strong suit and surprises are something I am still not a fan of. In fact, Christmas memories are some of my favorite from my childhood. My mom, her sisters, sometimes her brothers, their spouses and up to 11 kids crammed into one home for up to a week celebrating not only the magic of Christmas but the blessing…
Read MoreChristmas; Another Day Passing Us By?
Holidays are fast approaching. And for the past few weeks, my mind has been filled with the excitement and longing for celebration and togetherness. In an ever-changing world that we are a part of, looking forward to something is a must these days. But as the first of the next few major holidays creeps up on our families, a new concept plagues my thoughts. In our area, holiday gatherings are not “banned” but discouraged, as we still reside within a worldwide pandemic. And there’s a very real chance that we…
Read MoreHalloween 2020
Happy Halloween friends! Cooper had his best Halloween ever. He happily and proudly wore his costume. And the hat! I cannot believe he wore the hat people! He willingly walked with us. He visited four houses! And only went inside one. In his defense he knows where they keep the good paper. He picked out exactly 7 treats and ate none. Thankfully his brothers helped him out. He pointed to his bag to say trick or treat and signed thank you at each house. Then he was done. We were…
Read MoreAdvice for the Special Needs Parent on Halloween
Today can be one of those days that can cause parents of children with special needs to take pause. To lose their breath for a second. To take notice of differences. To even feel slighted. Halloween. For me, in those early years post diagnosis, I took comfort living in our own comfortable bubble. But days like Halloween, pulled us out. And pushed us away at the same time. We were not like the other families. We still are not. And that can sting sharply or even in a dull way,…
Read MorePreparing for an ASD Halloween….
Holidays are an interesting time for a parent of a child with Autism. And each holiday comes with it’s own unique challenges. There is also the fine line of….’how much do we actually participate?’ Cooper doesn’t understand Halloween. Or costumes. Or Trick-Or-Treating. For starters he is the least greedy kid ever….he will get one piece of candy and be great for the rest of the night. He doesn’t like to walk so the idea of walking from house to house is ridiculous. He would need to be carried or put…
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