Through Misty Glass

Through Misty Glass
            Like many parents in the developmental challenge/special needs world, we gradually realized that “something was off” with our younger son.
            He avoided eye contact, didn’t respond when called by name, didn’t point to desired objects or use other typical gestures, and struggled mightily with language, receptively and expressively. And there were monumental freeze-ups and meltdowns.
            Trying to fathom the complex layers of challenges was like looking through a fogged window on a cold day. Our son was not developing on a typical track, and finding effective ways to understand and help him took long, frustrating, heartache-filled years.
            And there he was, looking at the world from the other side of the blurred glass. Sensory overload and undefined neurological challenges left him fumbling in a “normal world” that his system couldn’t easily navigate.
            It often did—and sometimes still does—feel like we are trapped on opposite sides of a glass barrier. Years of chipping away at physical ailments and unraveling mysteries of “being wired differently” have brought our connection through the clouded window into better focus.
            Through years of hard work and unconditional love, we communicate with incremental improvements. I don’t know that our family will ever escape the hazy boundaries of autism, but our misty window connections have generated a special love that we wouldn’t otherwise know.
            This week’s Hike Notes brings visitors to San Francisco’s treasured Conservatory of Flowers, a historical landmark in Golden Gate Park. Even on a cold, rainy day, the Conservatory of Flowers offers a misty escape among tropical plants in vintage architecture.
            Please feel free to share. If you’re not able to take one of these Northern California hikes, hopefully you can enjoy the photos! Check the Home page for the broader background story. Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. 
            The list of hikes is getting long! Please check the Quick View Hike List or scroll down the main Hikes page to see the current list of hike notes.
New this week:
Hike Notes 88: Conservatory of Flowers