walk a mile...

Take a walk with me... over to Hopeful Parents where some amazing moms and dads share their difficult, joy-filled journeys with some really great kiddos.  Today, Stephanie O. is sharing some deeply touching words...enjoy!!

I'd love if you would try something with me. Close your eyes.


You're in a public place. You're a child. You're feeling afraid. The public space you are in is an overwhelming sensory explosion - you hear every single sound until a buzz rises around you. You can smell a nearby perfume, the body odor of another person, maybe something deep frying in the distance. Your eyes are being bombarded with bright lights, the movement of people around you, loud colours. You try to control the input - hands over ears, maybe closing your eyes. When that doesn't help, you try to make your own noises to drown out the buzz. Maybe you repeat something you heard earlier. Maybe you start to rock slightly, or careen off people around you. You're afraid. It doesn't matter what caused you to feel afraid in the first place. Because you don't have the ability to express your fear, you cry out.......
 
You can read the rest of this moving post over at Hopeful Parents!!