Post #5 for the LITTLE things are a BIG deal meme. It's easy to link up and share your story. [copy/paste the button (above) in your post or sidebar. Refer to my blog in your post & link to my current "the LITTLE things are a BIG deal" post. Link your post with Linky Tools. And if you link up, leave a comment. Otherwise, it's like going to a party & not saying hi to the hostess.] For information click HERE. You do not have to be a special needs parent to link up. AutismWonderland is a community. And I want to celebrate your every day wonderful moments with you.
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It was hard to tell who was happier to see the Monster Truck Jam Show: the fathers or the sons? Families of four, five and six giddy with excitement. Handmade poster board signs clutched in little hands. Boys in groups, jumping up and down - placing bets on who would win.
And then there was us. The Husband giddy with excitement. Me, nervous and cursing myself for not remembering headphones. And The Boy wanting to see Monster Trucks but upon seeing the crowd asked to go home.
As a kid, we always went to shows, Broadway musicals, the Circus, Disney on Ice, Radio City - and once, the opera. And I knew it would be something I would do when I was mom. But these were thoughts before I was mom. Before I even knew what autism was.
The Monster Truck Jam was our 2nd show; I bought the tickets with reluctance. After The Backyardigans Live fiasco of 2008, I told myself we would not buy tickets for another show until The Boy asked to go.
Even the movies have been tough for us. We've been to 4 - and it's been hit or miss. I'll spare you the ugly. If you've got a kid on the spectrum, you know how ugly it can get.
But back to Monster Truck Jam. We had gift certificates and The Husband insisted The Boy would love it. So I got tickets.
After we bought a set of headphones, a toy monster truck and ice cream, we found our seats. And as soon as we sat down...
The Boy: It's time to go.
The Husband: Don't you want to see the Monster Trucks?
The Boy: Yes. No - no it's time to go home.
Me: You see, I told you. He's not going to like it.
The Husband: He'll be fine.
I rolled my eyes at The Husband. We sat The Boy in between us. I took off his jacket. Ripped the toy truck out of the box. And gave him his ice cream. That got us through the intros and the national anthem. (Bad American that I am - I didn't make The Boy stand for the anthem.)
And then...the trucks came out. And as soon as they started revving their engines, The Boy jumped with surprise and quickly stuck his fingers in his ears. "It's time to go. It's time to go." And he started to get up.
I got him to sit back down. And tried to put the headphones on his head. He yanked them off. I looked at The Husband. "He wants to go."
"He'll be fine," The Husband assured me.
And then. The first monster truck rolled over the first set of cars.
And The Boy...SMILED! And started to laugh.
And for the next two hours, we sat and watched trucks crush cars and motorcycles jump up into the air.
Well...The Husband and The Boy watched. I spent most of my time watching The Boy. Because the smile on his face and the sparkle in his eye, was better than any show I've ever seen.
Note to self if I ever go again: bring earplugs and Advil. I left with the worst migraine ever.
For more pics from the Monster Truck Show - click HERE!
After we bought a set of headphones, a toy monster truck and ice cream, we found our seats. And as soon as we sat down...
The Boy: It's time to go.
The Husband: Don't you want to see the Monster Trucks?
The Boy: Yes. No - no it's time to go home.
Me: You see, I told you. He's not going to like it.
The Husband: He'll be fine.
I rolled my eyes at The Husband. We sat The Boy in between us. I took off his jacket. Ripped the toy truck out of the box. And gave him his ice cream. That got us through the intros and the national anthem. (Bad American that I am - I didn't make The Boy stand for the anthem.)
And then...the trucks came out. And as soon as they started revving their engines, The Boy jumped with surprise and quickly stuck his fingers in his ears. "It's time to go. It's time to go." And he started to get up.
I got him to sit back down. And tried to put the headphones on his head. He yanked them off. I looked at The Husband. "He wants to go."
"He'll be fine," The Husband assured me.
And then. The first monster truck rolled over the first set of cars.
And The Boy...SMILED! And started to laugh.
 |
| Fingers in ears. Ice cream moustache. Big smile. |
And for the next two hours, we sat and watched trucks crush cars and motorcycles jump up into the air.
Well...The Husband and The Boy watched. I spent most of my time watching The Boy. Because the smile on his face and the sparkle in his eye, was better than any show I've ever seen.
Note to self if I ever go again: bring earplugs and Advil. I left with the worst migraine ever.
For more pics from the Monster Truck Show - click HERE!
I've been systematically reading through your blog posts since I came across your articles on Parents blog and followed the links here.
ReplyDeleteI cannot tell you how close to home your words hit, how through your words I have lived a few years with you and your family, and how I've laughed and cried so easily over the past two days. I cannot tell you this because I'm not doing any justice to the real way you have affected me.
My little guy is only three, his name is Matrim. He also has autism, and the struggles- and victories- you have catalogued here are similar to ours. I hope that in the future, I can look back and say that I have done as much for my son as you have for yours. And I hope that I will continue to stay strong, knowing that there is a dedicated community that has done such a wonderful job already of illustrating how much our help is needed.
I think that many people who have come here cannot express how much these posts have meant to them, and so leave without saying anything at all. I almost became one of these people, but felt compelled to try. Thank you.