Autism Vox

One Weekend, Two Parties

by Kristina Chew, PhD on June 2nd, 2008

Yes, our family (as in all three of us) attended two parties this weekend.

On Saturday afternoon we drove into Queens via the Goethals Bridge, the Verranzano Bridge (Charlie sat up to get the full view of being close to the ocean), and Brooklyn (after going through Sunset Park and seeing too many interesting looking Chinese and Asian restaurants, and then East New York). One of Jim’s friends’ two sisters (count the s’s and the apostrophes in that) were both celebrating their birthday somewhere off of Fresh Pond Road. Charlie put his hands over his ears at the music and the party noise; a woman who works with autistic children at a school out on Long Island came and sat with him and talked; Charlie looked relaxed. He sat and ate while Jim and I socialized. Driving back to Jersey we got this view of Manhattan as we crossed the Brooklyn Bridge.

Sunday we were invited to bike on a trail to celebrate the birthday of a boy a year older than Charlie. “Ride bikes with friends,” Charlie said in the car as we drove with me glancing in the rear view mirror at the bikes on the bike rack. We drove past where we were to meet everyone and had to retrace our route. Soon as we found the party, Charlie could hardly wait to jump on his bike and—first and in the lead—he was off, Jim right behind.

There was lunch and Babycakes cupcakes (Charlie got to have 2), water balloons and happy cheer. We talked about schools and programs with other parents and a teacher, and watched our kids be themselves in their different ways.

Biking in circles and circles round the gazebo.

Sitting to eat facing the other way.

Running to put on a blue fleece sweatshirt on an 80 degree day (hood too).

We drove away dusty and glad for the AC in the black car, and the bikes tied on securely for the ride home.

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POSTED IN: Bike, Charlisms, Family, Friendship, New Jersey, Sports, new york