The kind of transitions that have been happening such as moving into a new home during a divorced situation is not fun for any child. Adam had his moments of extreme anxiety. In fact, it went on from the late fall until late February. A long stretch like that made me wonder if I’d ever see him smile again. Even though I knew it deep down in my heart, I did experience those moments of absolute panic.

Being in the south with Adam reminds me how anchored he is to me; how much he needs and wants me, not to mention how much he wants to see his mother smile. Watching how much he reciprocates, plays with me, wants to go everywhere with me, and talks (yes talks — he is very verbal down here this trip), is testament to the need for quality time spent with mom doing easy things. It’s also proof to me that I have to work on my own happiness and spend time doing the things I need to do to nurture it because I am not just doing it for myself. It has taken me two years to begin to realize this.

During that transition from fall to late February, there were days when he was so stressed that Adam didn’t even seem like Adam anymore. If I were a parent who would use this kind of lingo (which of course many of you know I am not), it may have seemed like “he wasn’t even in the room,” (which we know that of course autistic people are aware despite what others think of their behaviour, but this seemed like the appearance of a what Kristina Chew has coined the “neurological storm,” and I like that expression very much in terms of describing what these moments are like). For others who distill autism into that robot-type of cold person, Adam may have appeared “distant” — that we were “losing” him. He had lost all of his words, even. For Adam in particular, who is very affable and connected to people he knows well, this was a stark contrast. Yet, maybe mom was similar. Maybe it seemed like mom wasn’t really in the room anymore as I was trying to find the ground beneath my feet again after separation. I wonder how I may have appeared to my son.

Here, happy, relaxed and spending all of our time together, Adam has spoken the following:

Scenario 1: Browsing through a Payless Shoe Store looking straight at us: “Are you done yet?” Now for a parent with a more verbal child, this might seem like a nagging comment. For a parent with a child with few phrases, we were so happy, laughing hysterically!

Scenario 2: Getting ready to go but mom is trying to find her keys: “Let’s go, let’s go! Time to go, mom!!!”

Scenario 3: As he is doing something contentedly and I am trying to rush him out the front door: “Be patient with me.”

Scenario 4: After swimming and tugging on a wet bathing suit: “It hurts me.”

There are many more phrases coming out of his mouth down here in South Florida. He is not speaking in paragraphs, but such sentences are really nice surprises that this mom obviously doesn’t take for granted. Of course, Adam also has lots of physical activity down here. For a child like Adam who always needs to move around, a full day of swimming, running on the beach, climbing and swinging at the park, and going for long walks all seem to be another key to organizing that precious neurological system of his. Mind you, I’m not sure how to replicate the extent of this — the sheer quantity of exercise back in Toronto. Yet it’s another clue into how Adam needs to organize his neurology and attests to the things that make him feel happy and calm.

• Digg this post
• Recommend on Facebook
• share via Reddit
• Tweet about it

We’ve had great flights and not-so-great-flights. I can never predict or prepare enough. I have learned from Adam to give ourselves plenty of time, to pack his bag with his favorite toys, foods, and DVD’s. I generally know that early morning flights seem to be easier than mid-to-late afternoon flights, although like everything, there are exceptions to that rule. Adam can be happy and calm as I “work” the flight with him. As a parent of an autistic child, I have learned to stay on top of Adam’s needs before any anxiety is triggered, for once triggered, it can be difficult to calm down. So as a parent, I don’t get to read the paper or a good book when I’m on a flight with Adam, but I still believe the effort is worth it. Travel, like autism and life, is a journey we cannot perfect. We cannot always predict how bumpy the flight may be. We can’t predict delays that are a normal part of travel. We can’t predict the mood our child might be in as much as we cannot predict our own. We can, however, try to prepare ourselves and do our best to keep calm in challenging circumstances.

I’m talking about travel because not only do I thrive on it myself, but as a single mom I look forward to exploring the world with my autistic son. We’ve been to Alaska, we’ve been to the U.S. and the Caribbean. I am looking forward to taking Adam to Italy where I have a feeling he will love it for the sights, the gentle sounds of a murmuring town square, the Gelato, tomatoes and salami — not to to mention the flocks of pigeons he can chase and the magnificent art. It’s my dream to take Adam abroad. But it’s not my dream to endure a difficult flight. It’s my problem, I know. I don’t like to see Adam suffer. I think I have to just get things organized (like rent one place and make it our “home base” for several weeks). I am admittedly tentative about the overnight flight to Europe. Everyone tells me that this should be the easiest because children “can sleep on an overnight flight.” They don’t know my Adam. I remember that twelve-hour day from Alaska back to Toronto where Adam was beside himself. We learned that Gravol didn’t put him to sleep as it sometimes does for other children. I’ve learned that Chlorohydrate doesn’t settle Adam before an EEG. I’ve learned that Melatonin won’t relax him on a flight, either. Adam, my Adam, is my prize-fighter. If Adam is anxious and does not want to sleep, giving him sedatives may have the opposite effect. He may metabolize medication differently. Or, he just too anxious, period.

I will eventually book that trip to Italy at some point, deal with my fears and see what happens. I think I’m a well-prepared mom and it’s the times when I’m most prepared that I find easiest for both Adam and I. I’ve found some good suggestions on traveling with the autistic child (see below) that others may find useful and I’ve employed about all of these strategies. But I’ve not yet traveled afar with the little one and I notice that no one else has written a thing on the Transatlantic flight and the autistic child. I assume (hope, really) that some autistic adults may have some suggestions on helping a prize sleep-fighter enjoy his mid-air travels. Like so much information we seek as parents of autistic children, there simply isn’t enough to support us on our travels in life and abroad.

Travel Tip Sites:
Autism Family Travel
Coping With Autism (on Vacation)
How To Prepare For Traveling With A Child With Autism
Caring for Kids — Air Travel

• Digg this post
• Recommend on Facebook
• share via Reddit
• Tweet about it