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 “I am going to race the airplanes!” Samuel proclaimed and as each new plane came in, he ran with them towards the run way.

 

He squealed with delight and I laughed and cheered him on. "Look at me, Mommy!" I did. "Watch me!" I smiled. I laughed, I watched.

 

He never once thought of himself as “losing” to the planes, he simply enjoyed every moment of the experience.

 

Yesterday we waited for Tony’s work partner to arrive back in California after a long week end in Kansas in a “Cell Phone Waiting Parking Lot’ – something completely new to me.

 

I could imagine this being a favored spot of my mother when we were children. Free entertainment for the kids, the only price paid is imagination and celebration. We could do that for hours and never complain.

 

After our passenger arrived, we drove home to Bakersfield with Sam and I both tucked into the back seat, and never once did a complaint or a question of “Are we there yet?” from his lips. He was instead transfixed by a hand-held GPS device which spoke to him both in written words and some vocal prompting as well.

 

He could keep track of the miles per hour, the miles until we hit an exchange where we would have to turn left or right. He could determine the size of the roads ahead by the colors on the screen. He told the driver where to go, when to turn, and how long until the next stop.

 

He even helped us find the nearest gas station and place to stop for lunch.

 

One of the lessons I have learned alongside Samuel as I have tried to diligently honor his uniquenesses that are in part due to the fact that he has autism is to notice and encourage his strengths, first and foremost.

 

He loves technology. He loves noisy things – once he has come to know them.

 

This weekend he hung out at the Bakersfield Speedway with Tony. Last year, he was petrified. Didn’t speak, but watched carefully and closely. Didn’t want to leave but it was difficult to tell whether he was having a good time or not.

 

This year, he was thrilled to be invited and engaged with many people also there, like an aunt of Kevin Harvick and another nameless fan without famous racing relatives.

 

Sam simply had to become accustomed to it – to know what was happening before he could completely relax into enjoyment.

 

The same is true of the airport and airplanes. He isn’t ready to fly yet, but each time he gets to interact with planes he gets one step closer to being able to step onto one without extreme anxiety.

 

We went to the dentist this week with his older sister. He came into the waiting room without a problem. He came into the treatment room with coaxing and almost was willing to get into the exam chair. Next time we bring his sister for treatment, that will be my aim, not to have him receive treatment (the last time he did that was exceptionally traumatic) but to slowly help him gain comfort with the idea.

 

In coming at it this way, I am honoring how he is wired.

 

I am not expecting him to be anyone except for exactly who he is: my boy. My Samuel.