If you are not familiar, we have attempted church with autism.

And though I have never given up hope, I have not been actively pursuing success since.

Today I felt hopeful and maybe even a little bottom of the barrel with no place to go but up.  I got myself and the kids dressed for church and thought to myself what the hell, it’s worth a shot.

We pulled into the parking lot at church and RM was already directing us away from the church and toward the attached school cafeteria where she knows that young people like her brother collect there on occasion after school for catechism class.  Actually, I am sure she only knows as much as the collecting there part.  And oh yes, we have had some tragic drop-offs throughout the last two years when The Boy walked off into the crowd of students and RM was told we were not staying for the fun.  But eventually, we could pull up to the curb alongside the cafeteria and she would say, “Bye, Brother! See you in the afternoon!”

So it was only natural that today she would want to go to the part of this place where she knew departure was temporary.  Why on earth would she willingly go toward the building that is full of noise and people and music that rattles the ceiling?  So I tempted her with the bait of her grandparents inside waiting for her (after I scanned the lot for their car because what a freaking horror show that would be if they didn’t go to church this day).  RM flung herself onto the pavement a couple of times, but then saw Bapcia and Papa’s car.  Now we were getting somewhere. …continue reading