This year has been tough for families around the world, including mine. We’ve faced numerous challenges, from family members falling ill with COVID-19, including my five-year-old son on the autism spectrum, to experiencing loss, medical issues, and educational disruptions. I’m sure many of you can relate. However, as we approach the end of 2020, I can find some silver linings, especially concerning my son’s development.
Before the pandemic, my son attended an ESE PreK class in the public school system. When schools transitioned to online learning in the spring, we quickly realized that remote education was not suitable for him. In the fall of 2020, he enrolled in Kindergarten at an autism charter school, but once again, the distance learning approach proved to be a struggle.
In our county, children aren’t required to start school until they are six years old. So, we made the decision to let him take an additional year. He continued attending his behavior therapy center, where he had been enrolled since he was three, providing him with some stability amidst the chaos of the pandemic. Unfortunately, COVID-19 eventually reached the center, and my son contracted the virus, which he then passed on to our family. Thankfully, we all experienced mild symptoms and recovered swiftly.
Once my son’s symptoms faded and quarantine was over, he resumed therapy, where he has had the same therapist since the onset of the pandemic. Although our family hoped he would attend Kindergarten this year, I’ve been amazed by the progress he’s made during this extra year of behavior therapy.
During this time, he’s learned crucial skills that will help him succeed when he eventually starts Kindergarten. He’s gained abilities like playing with other children, waiting his turn, sharing, working both independently and collaboratively, following directions, and even mastering self-feeding and toileting. For many children, these skills develop naturally, but for kids on the autism spectrum, like my son, they require significant time and effort to learn. Had he started Kindergarten in 2020, he wouldn’t have been as prepared.
As our family continues to take precautions by isolating from extended family and friends while vaccines become available, I hold onto every silver lining. I remind myself that this is just a temporary phase and that we will eventually return to a sense of normalcy. Students will be back in classrooms with their peers, weddings will once again be filled with joyous guests, birthday parties will be bustling with laughter, and holidays will safely include beloved grandparents. While it may feel like we’re in a long, dark tunnel, there is light at the end.
In every challenge, there is indeed a silver lining. To find it, sometimes you just need to change your perspective. For more insights on related topics, check out this post on intracervical insemination and learn about different approaches to starting a family.
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Summary:
This year has been filled with challenges for many families, including mine, particularly due to the pandemic and its impacts on education and health. My son, who is on the autism spectrum, did not attend Kindergarten this year. Instead, we opted for another year of behavior therapy, which has allowed him to develop essential skills that will benefit him when he eventually starts school. While we navigate this difficult time, it’s important to focus on the positives and remain hopeful for the future.