Car Wash Progression
When we started going to the car wash with Mikey, we went to one that allowed us to get out of the car and watch the car go through from a quiet hallway. Here’s the post on that type of car wash adventure.
Eventually, I thought Mikey was ready to try riding in the car for the car wash. I knew it would be fun and stimmy, but I also knew it would be loud. In retrospect, headphones probably would have been a solid mom choice, but alas…I didn’t think of it.
I settled for helping Mikey express that it was too loud in his journal entry. Helping him express that it was fun overall, but that the sound was too much for him allowed us both to tackle this fun experience differently in the future…namely, with headphones as an option.
Fear not, my friends. I did not ruin his love of the car wash with my lack of forethought…he still loves it!
Big Ideas
- Providing headphones as an option allows your child to use them when the need arises. Having them available is always a good call.
- When big feelings arise, the journal can help our kids process their emotions in calm moments of reflection: “It was too loud. I felt afraid, but I was okay and overall, the carwash was fun.”
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About the Author
Erica Mauro is a mom to two teenage boys, Will who is neurotypical and Michael with Autism and cognitive delays. She holds a BA in Psychology from Colgate University and a Masters of Psychology in Education from Columbia Teacher’s College. Before staying home with her children, she worked as an elementary school teacher. For five years, she served on the Board of Directors of the Molly Ann Tango Memorial Foundation, a charity dedicated to enriching the lives of children with special needs. In partnership with her husband Dave, she aspires to parent by using daily life as an opportunity for therapeutic intervention, seizing on real experiences as opportunities to build skills and strategies for Michael in a joyful, loving home environment. On the tougher early days, she just tried to get everyone safely to bedtime and start fresh in the morning. *wink* 
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