Susan Senator
All happy families are not alike...
All happy families are not alike...
To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow
There’s always tomorrow for dreams to come true…
–Clarice the Reindeer
Oh, no. No, no, no. There we were, having bought our lemon ice, Ben and me, and on our way back, slurping deliriously and fending off the drips, we ran into one of the Brookline Shark Dads. “Did you hear what happened?” he asked. We had not. “Someone pooped in the pool, and they have to close it.”
Ben grinned, ten-year-old that he is. But I rushed back to where the team sat, waiting. Ned saw me, and after I handed out everyone’s lemon ice, I said, “How’s Nat.”
“He’s okay, I guess,” said Ned. The plan at the moment was for all of us to return home and then come back at 8 a.m. the next morning to resume.
We got home, and a few hours later we got a call from one of the coaches. The entire rest of the Games had been canceled. No swimming this year, except those lucky few who got their heats in prior to the accident.
We had to tell Nat the bad news. No swim races at all. I gave him a hug and I said, “Sorry, Darling.” Then I heard a lot of the word, “sorry” going round and round the silly talk. Sigh.
Ned and I felt so bad for him we wanted to cry.
But then Ned said, “We should make him a calendar. He’s been asking for it.” I realized that this was true, and that I had been putting it off, because of late July. We have not yet told him about moving out on July 28 and so I did not want to deal with how to make the calendar. But now I thought that if we had a calendar leading up to but not quite getting to July 28, we could show him all the fun things coming up beyond the Swim Races.
Nat ran to get me a piece of paper — the old calendar, which was still blank on the back, of course — and we sat down to fill it out. I was so glad to be able to say,”Dad’s birthday/pie” tomorrow (!) (June 16th!!!!) and then “Dad’s birthday party,” for next Sunday, followed by “Social Group Camp! Canobie Lake Park!; Chunky’s/Mini Golf!. Movie Madness!; Dance!; Go to a show!” YAY for Social Group!!! And then, the piece de la resistance: Week at Cape Cod!!!!
So together we were able to see that, yes, shit happens, but after all, tomorrow is another day.
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A disappointment to read this, for sure. But, a Happy Fathers Day to Ned, to my husband Andrew and all the dads everywhere who deal with the challenges of autism everyday, for all you do for our children.
I am in utter amazement at how some poop could close down the whole show. I really shy away from swimming pools because of exposure to chlorine. People don’t realize that their skin absorbs this stuff. That tired and itchy feeling after using a pool-that isn’t something to be enjoyed, I believe. (I wonder what they’ll do to clean it up.) Happy Father’s Day…and to all a fear of poop. -Tina G.
Now that reindeer song is stuck in my head.
Doody indeed. That’s great that Nat was ready to be cheered up by all the fun stuff planned for him this summer. I hope you put the July 28th event on the calendar, cause I believe Nat’s going need pumping up to meet this challenge with enthusiasm. Like prepping him for the dentist or anything else outside his normal schedule. You guys should do some joyful house stompies when you discuss it with him – he’s moving to the big boy house!!! Start shopping for things he can put in his new room, just like you wold for any college freshmen. Hooty hoo!! Honestly, you said you didn’t want to think he was being punished by the move, so start selling the benefits of independant living!!
Sermonette over. Lisa