Summer Camp
Parenting and Autism
My Heart Can Still Trick My Mind
Almost 18 years in, technically 16 from ASD diagnosis, and I still let my heart trick my mind.
It’s frustrating.
It was our son’s first trip to sleep away camp. Delayed three time because of Covid, an interesting accidental juxtaposition, camp would begin three weeks after his high school graduation.
It teased a sample of what our empty nest was supposed to look like.
It allowed us to flirt with the idea that this would be the turning point for him. That this camp would be the experience that would push him a little further, make him want something more.
I let my heart daydream. Penpal friends. A confident swagger. A social awakening.
Professionally, and personally, I knew better.
And it’s not that I’m disappointed in him or the camp.
I am disappointed in myself. I knew better.
He enjoyed camp and the overall experience was a great thing for all of us. I just let my heart get a little ahead of my mind.
Autism does that.
I will always hope and have faith in him, what I forgot along the way, is to not hang all my hopes in one thing to move him forward.
As always, it’s a combination of things. It always is.