It’s now only 7 days until we fly to America.
I can hardly believe how quickly it has arrived and I am getting just a tad excited let me tell you!
But as I wrote on WW’s Facebook page this morning….its not been all about excitement for my little Harley. There is a lot of anxiety and uncertainty creeping in.
His aspie brain is having trouble processing many aspects of the upcoming trip: The changes to his regular routine are overwhelming him and because he’s never flown before – he has nothing to reference it to.
He has been reading the social story I wrote about the trip over and over again and coming up with new and more bizarre questions each time that he reads it!
We went through the indignant “I can’t sleep on the plane in CLOTHES, I have to wear pyjamas” phase.
That one was solved by simply packing some pjs into his hand luggage. Then it was another sleep related question: “Where will my bed be?”
So we had to explain that you stay in your seat and sleep sitting up. I reminded him about the squishy neck cushion that we bought and told him that his seat will lay back a little bit. He nodded and then asked if Teddy could have his own seat.
I mentioned that the flight we are going on will have a TV screen on the backs of all the seats so that he can watch movies, but he freaked out asking me how he was supposed to watch something that’s on the BACK of his seat? It’s that darn literal thing again!
He has been quizzing me on the horsepower of the aircraft and is not satisfied with my answer of: “I have no flippin idea!”.
He has been asking me how the engine size of the jet compares to that of a stealth bomber and what it’s top speed is????!!!!!! He wants to know exactly what he will be eating and exactly what time to expect it. He has told me that he is scared that the plane will be too noisy so I reminded him that he will have noise cancelling headphones. He wants to know who our flight attendant will be and what she looks like. He asked to see a photo of her and can’t understand why I’m not forthcoming with this. He wants to know what language they speak in America and if he will be able to understand people, he’s also quizzing me on what kind of cars that people drive over there.
(Too much Top Gear me thinks……I have heard more than my fair share of GTR vs Lambourghini statements this week)
And the driving thing?: Well, that’s doing his head in too! He simply can’t fatholm that American’s drive on the opposite side of the road to us.
And while I’m on that – I have to issue a big SORRY to my American readers right now, but Harley wants you all to know that you are all incredibly wrong and that you need to learn the correct side to drive on. He thinks that you all need to go back to school and learn the right way so that you don’t cause accidents!
yeah – it’s kinda funny but I’m stressing that he will walk up to a stranger when we are there and tell them that to their face!
AWKWARD ASPIE MOMENT ALERT!
The day-time night-time thing has been a tricky one for him to grasp too. I ended up using a trick that I remember my dear old Dad using to explain the time difference thing to me as a child.
I got a ball and drew rough sketches of Australia, Asia, Europe, Africa, Antarctica, the Arctic and Northern America on it and held it with the fingertips of one hand. It was representing the earth.
With the other hand, I held a torch (flashlight) to shine on the top of the ball to represent the sun and then I slowly spun the ball just as the earth rotates. He could then see how it was possible for us to be in darkness when the USA is in daylight and vice versa.
This worked brilliantly for him because he is such a visual learner.
I now have all the bags completely packed and all the paperwork finalised. But what’s my absolute biggest issue right now?
The school rung me this morning at only twenty past nine to ask me to collect Harley as he has high fevers.
Fabulous.
Right before we go.
I’m prayin’ that it’s over and done with in a few days and doesn’t turn into anything nasty OR that he doesn’t manage to pass any nasty germs through the family.
This trip is going to be interesting enough already without sickness being thrown into the mix.
Cue some serious eye rolling!!!
