Dear Addie,
This past weekend we celebrated with ghosts, goblins, and a few Ted Lasso characters. That’s right Ad it was Halloween - a holiday I completely adore. Ok, well I basically like all holidays or any reason to eat and celebrate really…but where was I? Oh yes, Halloween.
Now we’ve tried many times to trick or treat with you, the concept is just a little lost. Like clockwork, you would walk up to the door, ring the bell and then proceed to walk inside, sparing no time, kicking off your shoes and making yourself at home. I imagine if you could articulate a conversation in the moment, you’d be saying something along the lines of “I’m here, let me make you dinner, where’s your milk?” (See previous blog posts about that…).
Now I’m all for trick or treating, in fact, we are of the belief that there shouldn’t be an age limit on this holiday. If you want to show up to our door wearing yoga pants and holding a martini, I’d probably still give you candy – just saying.
But for you, I just wonder how fun is it really? Or is there some other way for you to enjoy the festivities as well? Let’s be serious, we don’t need this holiday to get candy. I have something more than just a sweet tooth, it’s more like sweet teeth (I just heard every dentist cringe), so there’s no shortage of candy around here. As luck would have it, there WAS something more, and it was designed for kiddos just like you!
Surfing For Autism was hosting a special needs Halloween night at the aquarium in none other than the Outer Banks, otherwise, known as our happy beach place. A chance to go take in the beach scene (even if you can’t go in the water) and do something geared toward you having fun – you don’t have to ask us twice! Well with the reality that your brother and sister had prior obligations on the Friday evening of this event, daddy was all in on driving 3.5 hours with you to have some Halloween aquarium fun! Dad & Ad, like Thelma & Lousie, or Bonnie & Clyde…Ok wait those are bad examples, but the two of you were off on the road again to find some Halloween fun.
With the Jeep packed with everything, you could possibly need - from clothes to snacks, to favorite toys & lovies you drove 3.5 hours stimming and giggling the whole way. You LOVE long road trips so that is always a plus for us.
Once you arrived, daddy had pulled out your costume from your overnight bag, which was just a skeleton t-shirt because it was “the most like real clothing” costume I could muster up in such short notice, and like many autistic kiddos you’re not a fan of a lot of extra stuff on you. Costume on – check! Mask on – check! Hands sanitized – check! Headphones on — check! You were ready!
As you were checking in for the event there was a boy, far more verbal than yourself repeatedly asking his mom “Can I go talk to her? I want to go talk to her! I should go talk to her.” The mother eventually said yes and before y’all knew it he was standing in front of you saying “hello” and asking your name. Surprised, you looked right at him said “Addie” then he put his hand up motioning towards high fiving, you slapped his hand and scurried off to start making your way through the aquarium. Social skills – check!
Now the aquarium was set up in such a way that you could have the opportunity to touch and feel a lot of things from turtles to stingrays, even a kinetic sand table. It was very sensory-based and well thought out. You however seemed to be on some sort of mission by the speed in which you were going through the exhibits only stopping briefly, like very briefly to look at a turtle. It was then you started repeating “a game, a game?” You swiftly walked past the stingrays taking no interest in getting a closer look and proceeded to yell “jellyfish!” as you passed the jellyfish exhibit, you know, just making sure everyone knew exactly what they were looking at.
Still repeating “a game?”, you had now made your way to the final exhibit where the whole wall is a giant aquarium with numerous swimming sharks, literally my least favorite part of visiting here. It’s like I can almost hear the great whites in a Tony Sparano kind of voice saying “I know a guy that could take you out…” and you know what, he probably does! It’s a big ocean! The shark mob I’m sure is expansive! I know what you are thinking Ad, mom’s got some issues. You on the other hand walk into a very crowded room, see a light machine that shines different shape lights on the floor, yell “a game!” and proceed to delicately weave in and out of the crowd before taking a seat on some fish-shaped lights on the floor. Mission complete, you found the game you were seeking.
After about a minute of sitting there, you got up, grabbed dad’s hand, and started making your way to the exit. As you were leaving the lady that had checked you in literally asked if everything was OK because you had only just arrived moments ago. Dad laughed and said, “yep, she’s done!”
Addie, y’all drove 3.5 hours for roughly 6 minutes total in the aquarium. 6 minutes. You basically have the best daddy ever.
Another Dad & Ad adventure in the books with a little Halloween fun.
Halloween 2021 in the books! Great job baby girl.
Love,
Mom
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