We headed to an event, The Hoosier Star. We got all dressed up. Tristan took a long nap during the day. Tristan and I made his favorite dinner. Everything was perfect for a night out. With the exception that we know when we go out to any activity, there is a chance we will only stay for part of the event.
We had a picture of the events on his device. I explained to him where we were going and what to expect. On paper, it looked like it would be a successful night out. Until it was not.
We left after intermission. A meltdown out of nowhere emerged. We have learned to exit quickly!
On the drive home, I remuniated over what we could have done differently. Nothing came to mind. I have to remember we all have good and bad days. Tristan is only able to communicate to a certain level. He became agitated for whatever reason. I looked at Brian and said, “Maybe someday we will last the entire event when he gets a bit older.” I was trying to convince myself that it is okay, even though it stings a bit that we have not mastered community events. Taking Tristan out and enjoying different experiences is best, even in slices.
And this is where he is forever. That is okay, too. I will keep adjusting my expectations to match his developmental age.
The Practical Side of Autism 