You Decide
Families with special kiddos look different than a typical family. As the parents, you’ll need to decide how best to include your special kid. And, I strongly suggest you do yourself a favor – consider which events are appropriate and fun for each of your kids. Don’t try to force every person in your family to agree on every event.
Will wanted to swim in the winter, which meant swim meets in packed indoor pools which are loud, echo-y, and humid. Parents are screaming for their swimmers. Siblings are running around everywhere. And don’t get me started on the chlorine smell. It was NOT a positive environment for Michael with his sensory issues.
Still Included
So, on this weekend, Dave and I decided to divide and conquer. I handled the swim meet with Will and Dave stayed home with Mikey. Our core values lead us to support each other, so we had Mikey make a sign to encourage Will. Then we supported Mikey by sparing him from swim meet hell.
Win-win.
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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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