Waiting For His Grandparents

My parents' plane was 30 minutes early this afternoon, a good thing as Charlie had been awaiting their arrival since waking on Sunday morning. For some years, their visits have been preceded by at least one severe anxiety attack like this. We didn't write up a social story but mentioned the impending visit in a casual kind of way, while emphasizing that it would be fun and good times (but of course!) and that we would 'all be together' as, for the past three years when my parents have come at this time of year, it has been because I've been preparing to travel to Greece with students, an event which has evoked intense anxiety in Charlie.

We had also decided that, keeping the anxiety issues in mind, it would be best to 'stay local' instead of atempt one of our usual weekend long-bike-ride adventures. Jim and Charlie rode bikes on their neighborhood course; Charlie and I walked. We stayed in the house and, while Charlie looked as if he might ask to go somewhere, we did not and he was okay with it. While Jim went to get my parents at the airport, Charlie and I enjoyed making brownies after he found the red box of mix I had quietly snuck into the cabinet.

Charlie did all the usual things at my parents' arrival -- going through their suitcases, grabbing my dad's jacket -- and something different -- going down to the basement and retrieving the Winnie the Pooh beach chair my parents gave him when he was a toddler and that his stuffed Barney used to sit in, and setting it up in the living room among his things on the floor. He carried a suitcase upstairs as requested, watched my mother cook dinner, and placed a valentine card he had made on my dad, who was napping in the brown Laz-Ee-Boy.

My dearly loved father has cancer and has been through many treatments and procedures. He is bald now and, as anticipated, Charlie was flummoxed by this. But then, Charlie has been very attuned to my dad's health all along.

I know he is glad that Gong Gong is sitting in his chair.

 

Comments

[sarah]

so happy that all of you can spend some real quality family time together.

children, especially ours who have autism are so intuned to what it going on and how others are feeling... charlie can sense gong-gong's health issues.

may you have a wonderful time with your parents and his grandparents. cherish this. blessings to you all.

[Linda]

Very sorry about your father's illness, wonderful you are all together.

[autismvox]

Always good to hear from all of you -- have been enjoying doing 'the usual' at home (bike riding and hanging around), which is what my dad likes.

[Jill]

I'm sorry to hear about your father's illness. It's lovely when grandchildren and grandparents have a close relationship.

[Melanie Harper]

So sorry that your dad has cancer! Our kids do sense when something is different...even if they can't express it. My kid had to adapt to 2 grandparents who could no longer roughhouse with him due to health issues, and he eventually figured out how to play gently.

Hope they have a good visit with y'all.