Vacations: Life Without Words

-

 Traveling with kids is stressful for any parent - but when your child is autistic and has no sense of danger, that anxiety multiplies. For a long time, I wondered if vacations were even possible for us. Would Wyatt be safe? Would he enjoy himself? Would I spend the entire trip on edge?


When Wyatt was 13 months old, we decided to give it a try. We packed up for a 10-day trip, first visiting family in North Carolina and then heading down to a beach house in Florida. We live in Ohio, so it was a long haul—8 hours to North Carolina, then another 11 hours to Florida. I was so riddled with anxiety the entire time.


Before we left, I pictured endless meltdowns, constant stops, and my anxiety spiraling out of control. But Wyatt surprised me. We strapped a tablet to the back of the seat in front of him and played his favorite shows. He slept most of the drive, and we stopped every couple of hours for walks and bathroom breaks.

He did amazing. I stressed over nothing. 


 Once we arrived in Florida, new challenges popped up. The beach house had a pool. It was fenced in—thank God—but it still sent my mom anxiety into overdrive. Having a child with no sense of danger around water is terrifying. I was on high alert the entire time.


Then came the beach. Wyatt experienced sand for the first time. At that age, his way of self-soothing was rubbing his face. The sand stuck to him, making him miserable. He became overwhelmed and upset, and my heart broke watching him struggle. I cried, convinced he was going to hate this vacation.

But then, something wonderful happened. I was surrounded by my amazing family, who wanted to accommodate Wyatt in any way possible. My sister-in-law, Emily, sat at the pool with us and helped make the experience fun and safe. Slowly, Wyatt relaxed. He even got in the pool—and loved it. His laughter filled the air, and my fears melted away.

In the end, we had an amazing vacation. It didn’t go perfectly, but it was perfect in its own way.

The biggest lesson I took away from this trip? Take a chill pill. Things won’t go perfectly. There will be challenges, meltdowns, and moments of anxiety—but there will also be joy, laughter, and memories that make it all worth it.

If you’re a parent of an autistic child and you’re scared to travel, here’s my advice:


  • Plan ahead, but accept that not everything will go as planned.
  • Choose accommodations that feel safe (fences, locks, and familiar comforts help).
  • Bring along things that soothe your child—favorite shows, snacks, sensory items.
  • Surround yourself with a great support system. The people who love your child will step up to make things easier.



I am so thankful for my family, who made sure everything was okay for Wyatt. Because of them, and because I took a leap of faith, we created beautiful memories I’ll cherish forever.


Take the vacation. You may be surprised by just how wonderful it can be. 


Kerri


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Argonaute Syndromes Conference

-
 This weekend marks an important event... the Argonaute Syndromes Conference in Prague, Czech Republic. Families, doctors, and researchers from around the world are coming together to share knowledge, progress, and hope. Financially, we couldn’t make the trip across the ocean, so we had to settle for watching through Zoom. Of course, it’s not the same as being there in person, but I’m grateful for the chance to still feel connected. You may have noticed that I sometimes use different words when talking about Wyatt’s condition, and it might sound a little confusing. So let me break it down: Argonaute Syndromes is an umbrella term for a group of genetic mutations that affect a family of genes called Argonaute proteins. These proteins are essential for gene regulation... basically, they help keep countless processes in the body running the way they should. There are four main Argonaute genes: AGO1, AGO2, AGO3, and AGO4. Wyatt’s mutation is in the AGO2 gene. This particular gene change...
Read more

How We Got Here: Life Without Words

-
From the very first moment I met Wyatt, I knew there was something special about him. He came into this world with his eyes wide open.. so alert, soaking everything in, as if he didn’t want to miss a single thing. While most newborns sleep endlessly, Wyatt seemed fascinated by the world around him. He looked at everything and everyone, and I remember thinking, this little boy is different - in the best way. When Wyatt was a baby, he was actually a great sleeper. He slept through the night with no problem at all, which I now know was a blessing many parents don’t get to experience. But as time went on, we started noticing some delays. Around 12 to 18 months, it became clear that he was behind in walking and talking. He also became an incredibly picky eater—bananas, in particular, were his nemesis. I’ve tried sneaking bananas into so many foods, but he always catches me. Now at four and a half, he’ll open them just to smash them. Maybe one day he’ll eat one, but for now, smashing seems...
Read more

Siblings: Life Without Words

-
Sibling relationships are special, but in our home, they look a little different. Wyatt's little sister, Sophia, is only 1½. Watching them together has been one of the most beautiful - and at times, emotional, parts of our journey. When Sophia was born, Wyatt barely paid attention to her. To him, she was just… there. She cried, she slept, she existed in his world, but not as someone he interacted with. That all changed when Sophia hit a milestone that shocked us all - she started walking at just 7 months old! (Seriously, a baby that tiny walking?!) Suddenly, she was no longer just the baby in the background. She was moving, exploring, and Wyatt started to notice. Now, he doesn’t actively play with her, but there are small moments.. times when they’ll parallel play side by side. Sophia adores her big brother. She wants to be around him, to follow him everywhere. Wyatt, on the other hand, values his personal space. He loves spending time alone in his bedroom, listening to music a...
Read more