We are coming up on the first vacation of the year :) My kids are really lucky, their breaks last a week or more, besides the odd day off for random holidays like Presidents Day. We always take the kids to do fun stuff when they don't have school, but the last few years, we have made an effort to do something that takes up the whole week. Why? Well, there are several reasons, which I will now share :)
#2. Because autism. Life with James requires us to push his boundaries a little on a regular basis. He would be perfectly happy sticking to his familiar routines, but by taking trips, we can incorporate his consistent love of being in the car with a little push into new adventures and experiences. It is crucial for his future development to expose him to as many "NORMAL" activities as possible, so he can progress emotionally and socially.
#3. Because caregivers need a break too. What is that old saying? "A change is as good as a rest".....I am a full time caregiver, not just for James, but for Calvin, who is also autistic, as well as bi-polar, and of course, Jonathan, Rayzel and, not so much anymore, Savannah. I'm not just a Mom, I'm an Autism Mom, so I don't get breaks unless I'm sleeping and sometimes I just need a change in order to keep doing what I do for everyone. And lets not forget that the hubby needs lots of love and care as well, not to mention the odd vacation himself and a chance to remember that he's not just a police officer, he's a much needed husband and father.
#4. Because family. A lot of our trips revolve around visiting family and friends who don't live nearby. It's hard when you have kids with disabilities, it's hard to fit in, hard to socialize, hard to make and keep friends. We value those of you who support and encourage us, and make it possible for us to be included. Therefore, we are happy to travel to Delaware, Wyoming, Texas, Colorado or even Brazil to see you.... because you are our tribe :) You accept us with all our special needs and quirky personalities. You make us feel loved, and we desperately need that.
That's all the reasons I can think of before James gets home from school, so I'll leave the list here. I am super excited to be visiting family in Chapel Hill, North Carolina this next week. We are taking Rayzel's senior pictures there as well, and she has some fun places picked out that I think even James will enjoy...think carousels, candy stores and ice cream ;)
We are also going to squeeze in a trip to visit Calvin at Job Corp in Lynchburg, Virginia, returning 3 days early from Spring Break so that Jack can visit Gettysburg with his scout troop.
Happy Easter everyone!!!!!