Autism and more

June 30th,  me and Eve had our 11th anniversary.   To celebrate we went as a family to Trafalga, and for lunch at KFC.   Whenever we go anywhere we try to take precaution about what to do if Buddy Boy has a meltdown.  It was 30 min away from home.  A lot of times one of us takes Buddy Boy in the car until he calms down, but it was a very hot day, and couldn't sit in the car.  We packed food and juice and an extra diaper, and headed out early to avoid the crowd.  By the time we arrived it was already hot, and crowded.  Buddy Boy started with a good attitude and was okay waiting for a little in line without causing a scene.  He was so excited to go on the rides and while on the rides was having the time of his life.  After one hour it was more crowded, and very hot and Buddy Boy wanted to still have fun but with no one there to interrupt, or make him have to wait in line.  After the first hour he started to have meltdowns, so we went to lunch.  Whenever we take him out to eat we try to go somewhere that is not very crowded,  unfortunately this time KFC was crowded, and a kid sat down at a table next to ours and this caused another meltdown.   We decided to go back for some more torture, and meltdowns persisted.   One time I turned my eye on him for only a second and he ran up to a toddler and shoved him down to the ground.  It was embarrassing explaining it to the tot's mother. We were all exhausted and came home and took a nap.   Buddy boy is a generally happy boy.  While he is home he finds things to entertain him, and very seldom has a meltdown while we are home.  Whenever there is the time to go somewhere, library, gas station, grocery store, park, or any place in general with people, I think, "should I take Buddy Boy, he will probably be miserable, and there is a 50% chance he will cause some sort of a scene."  But then the thought comes to my mind that he needs to experience the world and so most of the time I take him.  Sometimes he does great, and others not so great.  When taking him places he gets very excited to go and wants to explore the world.  The only problem is it has to be under guide lines, and conditions.  At the store he used to want to run up and down and touch everything, and play with everything.  He has since learned he cannot do that.  As Buddy Boy continues to grow, hopefully he will learn some more social rules of how society works, and hopefully I will continue to take him with me to "experience the world."   ~Clay

This one he is at a park and there was some animals to pet.