A little bit of change goes a long way – Sun 12th Jan 2014

Today should have been a good day for D. Emphasis on the Should.

She had a party to go to at a soft play centre, somewhere she’d been to before, something she was looking forward to.

The timing was over lunchtime so, I – did what I normally do – pack a lunch for D (and T) in case she didn’t like the food, she had her sparkly party dress on and the necessary leggings and, off we went.

Change number 1: it being Sunday and therefore busy, we had to park in the overflow car park. Which was better tbh as it meant a shorter walk for D to the entrance, albeit via a different route, not a popular change in her eyes.

She initially started off fine in there, we found the birthday child and D was happily going up the big slide, showing others how to get there, taking me up a couple of times and we sped down very fast holding hands.

Then it got busier and noisier and D realised that….Change number 2: the children who are normally at the birthday parties she goes to weren’t all there and there were unfamiliar ones. She completely withdrew with headphones on, ipad switched on.

Then food time and….Change number 3: although some of the food was some that she’d eat but it was presented in a different format, she refused it and ate the packed lunch instead. Eating with us as….Change number 4: the lunch setting was in a different area and the only place left was next to someone she didn’t know (in kicked her stranger anxieties).

The other parents there were really surprised as they remembered how happy and outgoing she’d been at previous parties, there’s the unpredictable predictability of autism for you.

And then there was another change, party bag and balloon obtained, D was able to go with me and say “thank you” and then she wanted to leave, immediately.

At home, there’s been a further change, she’s happily played with her balloon with T, she’s been full of smiles and cuddles. I felt like a wrung-out dishcloth after the emotions displayed earlier, she bouncing around happily. Like I say, unpredictable and presumably experiencing sensory overload earlier.

A new week looming, fingers crossed it’s a good one.

I hope everyone’s day has gone well, comments/RTs/shares as ever welcomed, thanks for reading Jx

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