Travel

Did we go to see our family? Yes, we did. Yes. We. Did. Emilio, being allowed to actually get out of his bed when he woke at 3.30am on the day of travel, was particularly delighted with himself. The everything went all according to plan. We had priority check in, we had priority security on account of being a parent with a child (THANK YOU, PERU. NOTE TO ALL OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD: THEY HAVE REDUCED LINES BECAUSE THEY ARE LITTLE!!), straight through into the Lounge where I encountered for the first time, a children's section. Actually shamazing. Onto the plane where we had been upgraded to the first row...all was going swimmingly...until it wasn't. The neurologist said to just give him Melatonin to calm him and make him sleep. What the neurologist doesn't get is that my son LOATHES AND ABHORS the sleep and fights it with every breath in his body, every fibre of his being. So, instead of inducing calm...the sleepiness made him rage. I was introduced to the blood curdling scream at however many metres above sea level. As was the rest of the plane. Such was the level of torture, that the stewardess asked if anything could be done. I did not punch her because I do not believe in violence, nevertheless, to say it was a stressful time would be an inaccuracy. To say that I nearly threw both of us out the plane would be slightly exaggerating. I'll leave you to your thoughts...

However. People keep getting more wonderful. Sat beside us was a gentleman from Illinois. Almost close to landing, and only after Emilio had climbed on him and played with his beard, did he share that 12 years ago he was on a flight back from China with his baby girl daughter...along with 39 other infants who had just been adopted. He also had many friends with children with autism. He couldn't have been kinder and I couldn't be more grateful. Thank you, kind sir, should you ever read this, for showing such compassion when I was losing my mind and showing no patience whatsoever. Thank you. 

Landing in Orlando...my, oh my. They were INCREDIBLE. "Hello, Miss Kelly, we are waiting to accompany you with your son and make sure this next part is as stress free as we can make it." Yes, I whimpered. Anyone travelling with a person with additional needs, you go ahead and contact the airlines AND the airports. I am so glad I did - what a service and with such wonderful humour and humility. Again, thank you. 

And then. We had made it. We had actually got out of one country with its ridiculous rules and stuff into a country I have the utmost disrespect for due to its president (lower case intended), yet adore. I love Florida. LOVE. IT. It's hot and gorgeous and people are friendly and the roads are wide and no one is trying to literally ram your car and kill your child crossing the road. Yes, you have problems - guns and school shootings and gay club shootings. There is NO point trying to go there. But you are also the home of MIckey and Harry Potter World. Where people buy your $400 grocery bill and don't even want a thanks. Where the car in front pays your toll, just coz. Get over guns, stay as human as you are, and I'm yours. 

With all this, I am certain that my child picked up on family vibes. Certain of it. Meeting my gorgeous nephew and his gorgeous girlfriend after our long day and their long day and a SCREAMING MELTDOWN minutes before in the restaurant...what did he do? He puts both hands up and waves (backwards - the most amazing thing ever) and says 'hi! hi!'. Not once has he done this before. Yes the 'hi' and yes the waving but not both at the same time with both hands. This set the tone of our holiday. He just changed. I can't explain it and I can't even say what I mean...he just changed. More vocal, more interactive, completely accepting of all of our journeys, new people, new experiences. He lit up. He came even more alive. I am convinced that my son knew that the people we were with are my most important people. Convinced. And now he has a family. A grandma and a papa, aunts and uncles and cousins - the most amazing cousins anyone could ask for. Leading up to this trip, I was nervous. He is so different, my neurodiverse little piece of heaven, so I was nervous that he wouldn't be one of them...he's exactly one of them. Just one of our massive big gang, bringing something special to our already special mix. A & E, C & A, D & L, O & L: this little boy is the luckiest cousin in the world. And he has still got more to meet! 

It wasn't easy to get us there. In fact, it seemed impossible...but when faced with impossibility, I generally shout something offensive and go at it head on. There were new elements of parenting that were thrown up in our faces and new things I had to learn. As ever, my temper is my worst trait and it's taking everything I have to calm it. Despite years of not giving a flying filangie what anyone thinks, or perhaps building my persona to give off that impression, I really can't cope with the screaming in public. It sets my nerves on edge and makes me react angrily...I'm working on it. Working on it on a plane, when you've 5 hours and 45 minutes to go is new levels of hell. 

But totally, utterly worth it.