This pic is of little J…approximately 2 ½ months old. This was one of his first big road trips (not to mention he made a trip to Kansas to meet his family on his Daddy’s side during the same month.)
Do you see poor little me in the picture? I could NOT stop crying and worrying the entire time we were there. Literally. My whole life felt like FIRSTS, and I DON’T KNOW HOW TO DO THIS. Scott and I were still newlyweds (only married 2 years), J was this little PERSON that I didn’t really know fully how to help (attempting to cut his tiny, eensy, weensy fingernails on this trip was one of my biggest crying jags), and I was probably rocking along with some intense hormones.
But we did our best. I cried and recovered, repeating this pattern ad nauseam. Scott comforted and helped, also over and over. And Jackson grew and became a little dude that can travel.
Now, it wasn’t without struggle. Long before we knew he had autism (he was diagnosed at 8 years old), we knew that travel was uncomfortable for him, and therefore, extremely uncomfortable for us. When you boil autism down (at least with my child), it’s all about comfort, familiarity, getting the sensory input just right. I think if my husband and I didn’t absolutely NEED it, NEED TRAVEL, like we need air to breathe, we probably would have just given up and only traveled when necessary.
But we didn’t. I’m so thankful we didn’t. Maybe one day, if you meet Jackson, he’ll say he’s glad, too. But if you asked right now, he would have a list of places and experiences that he has begged me to never make him do again (10 out of 10 WOULD NOT RECOMMEND). But will he go and do these things again? Yes, because he knows there’s a little tiny bit of fun and novelty in these events that are worth it! He’s starting to stretch and learn that not everything in this world is the most comfortable…and that’s okay. And I guess I’ve been learning that, too. You know, with this whole parenting thing…lol.
I guess this blog is to encourage you. If you have a family member that struggles with travel (or if that family member is you), don’t give up on it. Even little trips are worth it. Experiences, memories, connection to a new locale or people, all of this…it’s worth it. It literally becomes a part of the fabric of our lives and forever changes us. When I think back on my childhood, it’s the places and people that matter…not the things.
