Forefront Friday
Our autism journey

Some days feel like weeks. This has been a week of weeks. Mostly because of my own assumptions and expectations. The unknown is often the hardest part for me. How to move forward, how to not rock the boat, and how to make it through the day and create the easiest steps to get there. Some days I think I know how it will go and it surprises me and other days I’m right on target. I think that’s life. With autism I always say the expected is the unexpected. There are foods Owen will eat no matter where he is and then there are foods he will only eat at certain locations or for certain people. With a lot of things there are rules that Owen follows. I don’t always understand the rules, I don’t always know the rules until I start to see the pattern, and I don’t always know how to follow them or make them easier for Owen. It’s like a set of governing thoughts that come into action when he needs to find comfort or routine. He will also do this for words, actions and motions. He learns so many things by repetition and the easiest way is to associate these things are with other words, actions or motions so it all becomes one thing to him. Because of this he has more order in his life and this helps him to find calm. I’m staring at the yellow chair and the rocket ship that get placed in the same spots every day. The angle has to be right and then he walks through them in his path. They can then be moved, but I know they will be placed back again when he needs the comfort they bring. The rocket ship can’t have its doors open and he has four colors to select from, but the chair is always the yellow one. Following the rules, learning the rules, and helping him with the rules keep him from going into as many meltdowns as he used to have. There are some things we will never be able to control, but finding peace for my baby is what I try to do. Life is an adventure and the key is finding that solid ground to walk on. Some days the challenges we face are daunting, but to keep pushing forward is the goal. Don’t let the fear of the unknown keep you from moving forward. Make today matter. Smiles to all and donut daze!

