Exposure

We went on a little vacation to a village called "Sun Park" just two hours from here. It's really fun for the kids there. You life in little but spacious houses in a park that includes a big water park and an indoor playground.
Nicky and Philip had so much fun at the water park. It comes with a canyon where Nicky just loooved to drift around. He looked like a smiling cork, really cute. Compared to the days we had before he was just a different child.
The park also had this indoor playground with the usual stuff you find there. It also had a stage, where once a day there was some animation for the kids, like dancing, theater and so on.
As soon as the music started, Nicky was right in the middle of the activities. First the animation people where a little unsure, but they didn't mind. BUT, they other kids ;O) . Some stopped dancing, just being amazed by Nicky and his behaviour.
As a parent you tend to pull him out there, but i think, every exposure to typical children is the best you can get both sides of the kids. I am always open to answer questions to both kids and parents. But parents don't ask, they just look. We are used to that sort of exposure. It still hurts but you just grow that shell. You ask yourself "When do people realize that something is wrong with him?" . Maybe when he starts to wiggle with his hands, maybe when he screams out of joy (for them it's probably more the scream of an animal). Maybe when he starts his crazy dance till the sweat runs down his temples.
You get that almost every day. Even we try to avoid the crowd, we also train with him to go shopping and to places where it can be loud.
But with a child on the spectrum, you never come unprepared. You know where the exit is, you know you have to pull something good out of your pocket to get him out of a favourite activity. You know when his limit is reached.
Today school started after two weeks and he looked very happy seeing his bus driver Heike this morning. We have to think about summer vacation, six weeks can be very long. We have two months to think about it ;o)
Have a nice spring day today! It's beautiful here, everything is in bloom and the different shades of green are amazing.