A Lesson in Calm at Halloween:

At the Halloween parade at Blake’s school, and I had this heart-sinking moment looking for him as his class walked by. The joy of watching the kids turned to worry as I scanned the crowd, only to realize he wasn’t there. My mind raced, fearing he had wandered off, as he's known to elope when he’s overwhelmed. Then came the guilt—guilt because we, his parents, decided to stand with other friends instead of right beside his class. We thought we’d give him space, thinking our presence might over-excite him. But in reality, he needed us there, even if just to know he wasn’t alone in that big crowd.

As the worry swelled, I found someone with a radio and told them Blake wasn’t with his class. Eventually, I found him in the garden with an aide, calmly placing leaves on the compost pile. My heart ached with relief seeing him so peaceful, yet a little bit out of place. When I asked him about the parade, he said he felt nervous and couldn’t see us in the crowd. There were too many people, too many noises, too much going on.

Despite the worry, guilt, and what-ifs, there was a silver lining. Instead of his usual response—getting overly silly and disruptive when he’s overstimulated—he asked for help and chose to leave. It’s a small step, but a powerful one. He found a way to cope, even if that meant missing the parade. I’m learning that sometimes Blake’s needs will take us down a different path, and that’s okay. He’s teaching us that it’s not about fitting in perfectly; it’s about feeling safe and loved, wherever he needs to be.

#EnjoyYourSilly

Momma Vix