Necessary Respite

“Each person deserves a day away in which no problems are confronted, no solutions searched for.”  ~Maya Angelou

Sorry I missed you yesterday.  Well, except I’m kind of not sorry, too.  We had the opportunity to spend the day at the home of my oldest sister (“P”) for our annual extended family reunion for my mother’s side of the family.  (My father’s side will connect at the same site next weekend.)

And we needed that little day trip so much!  It’s been a tough summer – a long summer, full of discord – and it was great to focus on something besides the challenges we’re facing with kiddo, even if just for one day.

The weather was beautiful, the food plentiful and delicious, the drinks flowing freely, and the laughter contagious.  We played in the pool and had the chance for a pontoon ride on the lake.  We watched the kiddos swim like fish, yelling “Look, Mom!” as they splashed off the diving board, and celebrated when our kiddo (who still is reticent to swim) got in the shallow end of the pool without his floating vest.  (Hubby was right there with him, but, still – it was a great moment!)

We watched the older kids take turns on the boogie board, and took a break from water play to visit the neighbor’s horses and feed them some treats.  We shared stories and caught up on the latest events our kiddos are facing, marveling at how quickly they all are growing up.  We laughed and cried together and shared many, heartfelt hugs before parting ways.

It was fantastic to be in an environment that is known to us, because it means my bases are covered.  We know the lay of the land, have a “time out” room available (though we haven’t needed it so far), and Aunt P sets good house rules and boundaries for kiddo.  He really likes going there, so he’s usually pretty well-behaved.  (It helps that he knows Aunt P means business!)

Even better than knowing the details of our environment is the acceptance we feel when we are around family.  That, too, has been a tough road at times – helping those not with us on a daily basis understand exactly what is involved in raising a child with special needs.  But it has gotten much better over the years.

It’s great to go somewhere and know we’re set for a fun day, and we don’t have to face insensitive comments or unnecessary questions about what we’re experiencing.  I don’t mind being vulnerable and sharing what is on our plate, because I know nobody there is trying to fix anything.  And I’m grateful for that, because we’re not broken.  We’re just trying to navigate the waters as best we can, and we need time for fun and play.

I’m grateful we got that need fulfilled in spades yesterday.  My heart was full.