great expectations

So much in our life is dependant on expectations leading up to it.  Call it frontloading, transition planning, micromanaging or setting the stage for success, the more I can inform my daughter about what is going to happen in any given situation the more likely she is to go into it relaxed, accept the conditions and be flexible if there are some unpredictables. Pictures, videos, verbal explanations, stories/books, internet research,drawings and even worst case scenarios are all used whenever possible to prepare my daughter for an event, doctors visit, class, competition, show etc. I very rarely take my daughter into a situation that she is not fully prepared for if  i can help it. Occasionally, i can take an unknown slowly enough that we can make short frequent visits until she gets  very comfortable, feels safe and knows what to expect from one visit to the next. It’s only fair, she already has enough working against her.

Our farm in the suburbs

We just got back from vacation and although we got a chance to go to a zoo and an aquarium in LA it doesn’t compare to the comfort we get from being with our own animals. Since we got home last night my daughter has cuddled her bunny, fed the snake a mouse, played with and cuddled the dog(for hours) and is now an hour into riding her horse. Animals are helping us survive autism and adolesence, teaching responsiblity, promoting exercise and fresh air, offering some social interaction (at the barn) , assisting emotional stability and giving unconditional love.