When Dylan was diagnosed. My mother blamed me.
My mother grew up when Autistic children were only severely handicapped. Thus, she had set ideas of what Autism is.
On March 6th my Mother volunteered to venture to the Decatur Children's Museum with Dylan and her classmates. Each child had to have an adult on this trip, and my mother who's last field trip was when she was in school, thought it would be fun.
Long story short, 6 classes of 10 children, each with a parent plus teachers went on this trip. Then to my mothers surprise, another school district showed up, with the same amount of people. Now at this point, there are almost 300 people in this small 2 story museum.........anyone else seeing red flags?
Meltdown anyone? Dylan was overloaded, she didn't know where to start or what to do. She screamed at my mother, threw herself on the ground, and eventually when she couldn't get to what she wanted to do.....she made a path knocking objects and children out of the way. Eventually Dylan was asked to leave by the museum. I'm sure my mother didn't explain to them what was going on. (We have been there before, on a slow day, with much greater success.)
My grandparents pick both of them up. Dylan got in the car and quickly her attitude changed. She calmed down and even said "Thank you Grandma and Grandpa for taking me home."
Small Victory? Ah yes, the small victory comes with my mother. When I got home from work, she gave me the scoop on the trip. My mother now understands why Dylan was diagnosed. My mother understands.
And that is the victory my friends, my mother understands, accepts, and is willing to work hard to help Dylan.
Sweet Victory.
A picture from the successful trip to the museum.
