Satisfaction Guaranteed {New Special Needs Parenting Column}

Having a child with special needs sometimes can be challenging but overall it helps keep you sane. Sure, there are many things that are hard to ignore and to deal with, like his occasional loud ( no really loud) outbursts in the middle of Walmart: everyone around is thinking”what’s wrong with that kid?” or say  “I would beat that kids a**“, or they look at us both as if we are contagious or just weird. I used to get a little embarrassed and grab him by the hand and bolt to the nearest exit then I realized, wait a second. He just did what 90% of feel like doing at times and especially in one of our favorite shopping places- none other than WALLY WORLD.

Imagine standing in the middle of New York City. The people rushing past, the sounds of horn blowing, the business of the taxi’s, people talking on their phones etc…. Chances are you and I can filter those things out but sometimes my son can’t and all of those things become sensory overload and what better escape than to release it through a good yell! And on a busy day there at Wally World, it feels like Grand Central station. The challenges of raising a child with Autism include maintaining a schedule, keeping things simple, listening to what he is saying nonverbally as well as deciphering the words that aren’t so clear, trying to stay on a routine,  NOT enabling and trying not to cause physical harm to people who make stupid comments or lack common courtesy (lol).

One day  we were about to enter a restaraunt and Steven ran ahead to open the door for us when a lady jumped ahead and went in before us. STEVEN PROUDLY HELD BACK THE DOOR WITH A GREAT BIG SMILE ON HIS FACE.  She ignored his kind gesture and walked on through. Steven looked her up and down then looked back at us and sarcastically  said”THANK YOU STEVEN!”  We praised him for being a gentleman and explained that she must have been recently diagnosed with RUDENESS!

When you think of it, these are not challenges at all; just typical responsibilities of a any parent. At some point we all have experienced Autism tendencies. Like, have you ever wanted to be left alone and unbothered, certain sounds or people talking or loud music get on your nerves and how often do you want to just get away or tell others  to be quiet?? We all get anxious and stressed when our schedule gets out of whack, and imagine absorbing all the typical stresses of the day and not being able to say a word about it. Now imagine  all  that anxiety bottled up  inside and now your Mother decides to take you for  a grand tour of WALLY WORLD!! You would scream too!!

Steven laughs alot and so we  laugh alot and when people stare, now  we make funny faces and  stare back, when Steven breaks out into a song walking through the mall we now just smile and sing along, and although we have heard his commercial for the millionth time of” Classic Country , two cd’s and two cassettes, Call Now!” we always  join him as if it’s the very first time announcing “Satisfaction Guaranteed!”

Dawn Rix is a local mom of two children, including Steven who is living with Autism.  She is a master hair stylist and owner of Salon Resilience in Inwood, WV.  Dawn is also a well known recording artist and vocalist.  Eastern Panhandle Moms is excited to welcome her as our newest contributor.  She will write monthly on the topic of parenting a child with special needs.