4 Years In The Making

Dear Addie,

Four years. We’ve been coming to our beloved NC beach for four years and finally seeing what we had hoped for all those years ago.

You see, Addie families like ours have difficulty when it comes to vacationing or something most special needs families would refer to as just moving our chaos to another location. Sitting in a restaurant for more than 30 minutes is dicey for us. Hence, an airplane ride anywhere is just about out of the question - although I would be down for a radically inclusive special needs friendly airline one day; just saying 😉 Hotels? Equally as dicey. If you’ve ever had security called on you during an autistic meltdown, you’d know it’s not the best feeling in the world. The exposure is key magic advice we all get; while that’s valid, not everyone wants to be “exposed” to your therapy on their vacation. So, what were we to do?

Well, four years ago, truth, it didn’t go that well, but you loved the water. There was an unmistakable beach vibe that fed our souls (even with the meltdowns of having to leave the beach that often included us alligator rolling with you across hot sand); we thought if we could have a consistent place to call our “vacation,” you would adapt. You could find the peace & calm of it all. It would become your other routine away from home.

We kept at it, and every visit improved, bringing us to this week.

This was four years’ worth of patience and consistency paying off. There has not been a single meltdown. We have sat on the beach and just “looked” at the water without an extreme WWF wrestling match ensuing with you trying to get in. The day we did decide to let you go into the freezing water, ok, it was 52 degrees but way too cold for swimming in my opinion, and more documented evidence you have the best daddy in the world to accompany you on that frigid adventure – you left with only a single battle cry of your displeasure but without struggle. Addie, I think you finally trusted us that we would be back. This was finally your other normal now and a great break away from reality for the rest of us.

Addie, we worked for four years to make this an enjoyable break for us and you because you, my dear, are entitled to a break too. You work crazy hard every day in a world not designed for you, and we are insanely proud of you for that.

There were no airplanes or fancy resorts - something to work towards, perhaps ;) but a date with the nature our great state has to offer us instead in what’s usually a relatively quiet beach town together One Team, One Dream - in our happy place, finally soaking up the calm it offers.

Great job, Ad.

Love,

Mom