A big week - Part 1

 

So this week is a pretty big week and if we manage it, it’ll be a huge achievement for Little C.

We’re going on a trip. A few days in Wales at Little C’s grandma and grandads caravan and in between we’re going to our friends’ wedding which will involve us staying in a hotel for one night as it’s a 30 minute drive from the caravan. Yes!.. gulp… a car journey, not just the one either but lots of car journeys! This is the first obstacle of the trip - and possibly the biggest. 

We are all acting very chilled out about the whole thing to try not to build it up so as to keep Little C’s anxiety low - but the reality is that we are so nervous at how this is going to go, and if we’ll even get there at all.

The plan is on Wednesday to travel in the dead of night. Well, not exactly in the dead of night …we plan to set off around midnight but to Little C it’ll be the dead of night! We’re hoping that Little C will sleep for the journey and that the roads will be quieter than during the day. We have acupressure travel bands, travel sickness glasses and prescription transdermal patches (Little C won’t take medicine). So we stick one patch behind his ear after tea on Wednesday and it stays there for up to 72 hours. By the time we set off at midnight, we’re hoping the anti-sickness drug will have worked some magic and he’ll be a bit drowsy and not sick. I’ll sit in the back seat with him just in case. He is aware of the plan and so far he likes it but is already saying he’s nervous about going in the car. There’s a chance he’ll panic when the time comes to be carried from bed to the car. He might even wake up fully and just totally freak out!

Once at the caravan, we’ll spend Thursday relaxing there. Enjoying the beach and Little C can play in the little park. He’s really excited for this. Then on Friday we have the car journey to the hotel (a 20-30 minutes drive depending on traffic). This journey worries me as I can imagine him refusing to get in the car. Especially if he’s still over-stimulated from the previous journey and excited about being away from home. The patch should still be working at this point though and he knows his cousins are at the other end of the journey (professionals call this the ‘pull factor’ i.e. something that makes him want to do something he’s afraid of) 

Once at the hotel, things should be okay as his cousins will be there and I think he’ll be excited for the wedding and we’ll all be getting ready. Little C loves his outfit (although has refused to even try it on!) and has insisted that he wears a tie ‘to look handsome’. He was so excited when the tie arrived that he wore it all day (even to bed). 

The next car journey is to the wedding venue and it’s just a few minutes away. We’ll be in a mini bus as they’ll be eight of us so this might be okay.

The problem with Little C’s travel sickness (and this applies to a lot of people who suffer with it apparently) but he can feel unwell for some time afterwards too. He can feel dizzy, tired and sick. Even after a 5 minute journey. Hopefully his mind will be distracted from it when we get there. The patch is supposed to really help with these symptoms too. 

So then the actual wedding itself! Lots to think about here. The noise, the people (Little C always asks ‘will it be busy’ whenever we go anywhere), the food, the smells, music and flashing lights (at night), loud laughter, clapping, needing to sit still, to be quiet (the vows, speeches), nappy changing (?!), his clothing and new pumps (he struggles a lot with footwear). Little C can usually only tolerate a different environment for an hour or two before asking to go home especially if it’s a very stimulating environment. I know that there are no expectations and pretty much anything goes; whatever is necessary, our friends (the bride and groom) will understand! So changing him into comfy shorts, putting his pyjamas on in the evening, taking off shoes, snacks, ear defenders, more snacks, watching his tablet and plenty of sensory breaks in quiet parts of the hotel are just a few of the strategies we’ll use to keep him happy for as long as possible. 

The next morning, after staying in the nearby hotel overnight, we’ll be heading back to the caravan for a few more days. To wind down before the journey home. We don't plan to do much whilst at the caravan but we might go to a petting farm/outdoor play area which is a short walk down the road from caravan (Manorafon Farm Park - I love this place!)

So I’m super excited for the next week. I’m a bit stressed and very apprehensive. Just really hoping the trip is a success. I’m not for one minute thinking it’ll be plain sailing …it’ll be rocky as hell I’m sure, but we’ll deal with each obstacle as it arises. 

We are so honoured to have been invited to celebrate our friends’ big day with them. We just need to get there! 

Update to follow. Wish us luck!