Ok- here we are again.  OH summer how I miss you…and your pure joy you brought me as a kid.  Again, autism and summer do not mix.  We can have the highest of intentions…and highest of hopes, but really summer is just one big span of stress.  90 days.  90 long-ass, stressful, autism filled, anxiety days.  A time of unpredictability, stress, no sleep, and little time to get much done.  (Yes, this is usually a time of relaxation and fun)  I usually get the family schedule set, and do as much as possible to make it easier…but autism always ups the ante during the summer.  Everything is on HIGH ALERT…and I do not lie.

Don’t get me wrong, I can see the positive in a lot of the summertime.  Little things do help in summer, such as swimming, summer school and slurpees.  I am not the depressive person I make myself out to be on this blog.  I am unusually happy (prozac) most of the time, and find a lot to laugh at (it’s all a lie:).         (that’s a joke) We, as a family, will be working a lot on socialization this summer, and being more independent as we take that step towards high school.  The future looms right around the corner, and this child needs to gain some independence, and self-worth.  Again, a schedule is being made and a daily activity sheet is being drawn.  There has to be some kind of organization to this whole thing.  It helps.  (At least I hope it does) Look out summer…here we come.

It’s hard enough to be the parent of an autistic child during the summer…can you imagine what it’s like for them?