Ah, the thought of Spring Break.

When you are young, the mere mention of Spring Break simply makes you think of time off! Beaches! Relaxation.

Ahhhhh!

Sounds nice right?

But for those who are not in that stage of the game anymore.

Spring Break can still mean a pretty nice vacation but not quite the same.

As parents, Spring Break can mean family fun.

But as parents and care givers for our special needs children, Spring Break can mean many other things. Like the need to plan ahead, pack well and talk/communicate well ahead of time.

At least in my opinion and okay! In my experience as well.

Can it be fun? Absolutely!!!
Did we have fun? Absolutely!!
Did it require work before we left! Absolutely!

I think back on the very first trip we took when Elizabeth, our daughter with special needs, was young and quite in the throes of her SPD (Sensory Processing Disorder) anxiety. And how much we/I did to get ready for the trip. From figuring out the food to bring for the drive to the sleeping arrangements down to the night lights we needed to take.

I know that without the prep time, the stress of the actual trip would have been compounded many times over!

So I know, from experience, the importance of all the above planning and more.

But first things first,

Any change of schedule is a big thing to our kids, so the fact that their school schedule is changed for the break time is a big thing and takes getting adjusted to. Let alone adding the change related to an away vacation.

So now is a good time to start talking to them about this change coming up. Maybe show them a calendar to help them see when this is coming. I know for us this kind of preparation helps Elizabeth get herself better prepared for this upcoming change.

It is also a good time to start talking about the things you hope to do on their week off. I know that if we hoped to, say take a boat ride, it would be better to start talking about it early and give Elizabeth time plan for it than to take her there and say “surprise, we’re going on a boat trip”

So it is a good time to find pictures, websites and other things you can use to show your child what they will be doing and what to expect.

Does it make more work for us as the parents and caregivers? Yes but the work is worth it.

The work help everyone get the chance to relax more because you will have anticipated the big things and planned for the little.

You can start making a list of must haves: like their favorite food and snacks, night lights, favorite toys, fidgets and ways for them to self-regulate. This helps to make sure that nothing so precious to them gets left behind. Trust me a trip the local Walmart will not find some of the items Elizabeth needed back in the day!

I know that once Elizabeth had what she needed, that I could relax. Sorry to say but that is the truth. I can remember how nice it was to be sitting on the deck of our vacation spot, having some coffee and Elizabeth was happily near us listening to music, her music.

It is nice to know that hard work ahead of time, can make the relaxation we all need a true reality. Now let’s be honest. There is probably not ONE vacation had by anyone that was complete and utter peace. And that is the nature of a family vacation, hence the popular jokes and memes about family trips.

So realistic expectations make all the difference too!

I think that as the calendar nudges us closer to this break time, it is fun to know that we will have the time to be together and make memories, it is just some extra work ahead of time can make all the difference for our special needs children and hence everyone in the family.

Happy planning!

I wish everyone a peaceful week.

Michele Gianetti author of Elizabeth Believes In Herself

We had a nice time this weekend and did something that we had not done for over 2 years!

And that is have an indoor get together!

We did have an outdoor party for the 4th of July last summer and then the COVID numbers began increasing pretty high in our area, so any more holiday gatherings became out of the question due to health issues that our family members have.

With all that being said…it was Michael’s birthday this weekend and we had a spontaneous gathering of some family.

Was it wonderful and fun?

Yes!

And now here is the but.…

But we all know that our special needs children need some help/guidance when as to what to expect when there is a gathering or event. So, this fun time, required that guidance for Elizabeth.

For those who don’t already know, my daughter, Elizabeth, has special needs. She has global dyspraxia and sensory processing disorder ( SPD) this latter one can make gatherings that become too loud, long or crowded too much for her system to handle. So we need to talk through what to expect and give her the layout of the party or event so she can figure out when she can go to a quiet place and regroup, if she needs to.

And I must say that due to the fact that it has been SOOOO long since we had something, it almost required more. Which does make sense, doesn’t it?

So we ended up having a wonderful time celebrating this special day for Michael and Elizabeth had a great time. She ended up taking her break after cake and presents.

This got me thinking of when she was younger and in the deep throes of her disorders. The times she would cry all day or be unable to handle new things at all. The times that certain pacifiers, music, therapies were simply required in her day for her to be okay.

It was such a tough time and such hard work for us and for her to make it through a day.

I thought about this as I watched the news about Ukraine.

I thought about this as I watched these young moms take their children to safety. Some are in the car for hours seeking safety in another country while others hide deep in the earth in tunnels. Without food, water or any comforts.

And my heart breaks on a thousand different levels for them and the country of Ukraine.

But I cannot help but think of the moms who might have a child like Elizabeth. What do they do?

What happens when the child cannot have what they need to stay calm? Or the only foods that usually eat? Or the quiet they desperately need?

I can absolutely not imagine adding in the special needs element to the already life and death situation would be. Because it is a factor….for the mom and family traveling.

I pray for those moms…because I truly cannot imagine being in their reality with a younger Elizabeth. Her disorders are not ones she would wish to carry but they are part of her and hence part of what those with special needs children will have to cope with. Along with everything else they are facing.

My thoughts and prayers go out to them all and a special prayer to those who have that special child they are traveling with, sheltering with or just holding somewhere.

This is just something I have thought of because it really is the reality for some deep in those tunnels.

I pray strength for them.

We all get this because anyone who has special needs in their lives does.

Just some thoughts this week.

Michele Gianetti author of I Believe In You