Treasure Hunt
2013
Last night Austin wanted to go on a treasure hunt and asked if I would go with him. We walked around the neighborhood in the dark for a good while talking, playing and exploring.
Walking in the dark is a big deal. Austin has been afraid of the dark since he was about eight years old. Any dark. Not just in-the-house-dark-room dark.
When we lived in Austin, the temperatures would easily soar to 100. Nighttime was a comfortable time to be outside, but Austin's fear of the dark left us inside- a lot. I won't lie, sometimes this left me feeling frustrated. My mind would chatter at me telling me there was no hope of ever leaving the house ever again; this was going to last forever and ever and ever if I didn't do something about it.
Tonight's walk in the beautiful, crisp, evening with the smell of jasmine everywhere and an enthusiastic boy on a treasure hunt by my side reminded me of something important: just because Austin is going through a period of fear or wanting more time to be at home or more time to be alone doesn't mean things will be that way forever. He's growing and changing everyday. Helping him and being patient with him and understanding him are the best possible things I can do as his mom.
Honestly, tonight's walk was more wonderful than any number of forced evening outings could ever have been.
Last night Austin wanted to go on a treasure hunt and asked if I would go with him. We walked around the neighborhood in the dark for a good while talking, playing and exploring.
Walking in the dark is a big deal. Austin has been afraid of the dark since he was about eight years old. Any dark. Not just in-the-house-dark-room dark.
When we lived in Austin, the temperatures would easily soar to 100. Nighttime was a comfortable time to be outside, but Austin's fear of the dark left us inside- a lot. I won't lie, sometimes this left me feeling frustrated. My mind would chatter at me telling me there was no hope of ever leaving the house ever again; this was going to last forever and ever and ever if I didn't do something about it.
Tonight's walk in the beautiful, crisp, evening with the smell of jasmine everywhere and an enthusiastic boy on a treasure hunt by my side reminded me of something important: just because Austin is going through a period of fear or wanting more time to be at home or more time to be alone doesn't mean things will be that way forever. He's growing and changing everyday. Helping him and being patient with him and understanding him are the best possible things I can do as his mom.
Honestly, tonight's walk was more wonderful than any number of forced evening outings could ever have been.
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