Thanksgiving

After Halloween we found ourselves in full swing of the holidays.

For Thanksgiving we traveled to Louisiana to see my in-laws, a trip that we were very nervous about for Stevie. Aubrey comes from a big family and we love it. But big families packed into small spaces causes anxiety for anyone, let alone Stevie.

We talked about it in therapy, we had strategies, we had tools, we had back up plans, we had a place to retreat to…we were prepared. But I was still so nervous. The last trip we had made to Louisiana in May had been the very start of the major triggering that led to her diagnosis.

So with all of our tools and anxieties we loaded up the van and drove the 13 hours to Louisiana. She was excited to see “Grandma and Pa”, her cousins and the farm.

We rolled down the long gravel driveway to Grandma and Pa’s tired, cranky, and stir crazy from the drive. Stevie was quiet and reserved for a while, but then she began to come alive.

Did she talk to everyone? No. Did she have meltdowns? Yes.

But she exceeded so many of the hopes we had for this trip.

Did she play with her cousins? Yes! Did she talk to some of her aunts and uncles? Yes! Did she recognize when she felt overwhelmed and take a break? Yes!

Was she brave? Yes. Always Yes.