We have been just awful about getting out and enjoying where we live. Since we moved here over two years ago we’ve poured every spare second into working on the house, and now that we have Atti, getting out is super complicated. Along with all the usual paraphernalia that comes along with kids, we have to imagine every scenario we might find ourselves in, and come up with a plan for Atti’s mobility. Strollers don’t work everywhere, we can’t carry him the whole time, a shoulder harness is a pain to get on and off quickly…it’s usually a combination of strategies and being prepared to cut trips short when our arms give out.
But I also refuse to allow my child’s disability to shut him off from the world, so we are trying to figure it all out in baby steps.
On Saturday we tried to go to the beach, but that was a huge mistake. The beaches here in July are swarming with tourists, and this week there was some big faith healing event at the amphitheater. We ended up having to park ten blocks away, and we didn’t even make it to the street before we decided to give up.
So the next day we aimed a lot lower, packed up a simple picnic, and just hung out at the park for a few hours.
That was much better.