23/08/2026
Yesterday we went to Harlow pet corner a firm favourites of Woodys…. What a day
I was excited for him he wanted to get out the pram pretty rapidly pulling and twisting his 5 point harness, as I got him out he ran straight off me Beau and Poppy running after him.
He detours and suddenly we are met with lots of families having picnics and I’m starting to fear what may happen then i notice woody lock eyes with a little birthday gathering with lots of BALLOONS 🎈 he dashes off I follow but have a malfunction with my crocs of course haha woody has made contact with a balloon a lady stands in front and asks him to stop woody doesn’t even look up he continues to touch so I quickly divert us away woody becomes upset he doesn’t understand.
We get to the animals thinking brilliant we can now relax I pop woody down far enough to hope he won’t just run back to the balloon and he is distracted enough 🤞🏻 he bolts to the fish his happy place but after 2 laps he dashes back out I follow behind him knowing he going to one of the pens they recently had open with their displays photos of the last 60 years and some hay stack woody spent AGES in here last time we came this time he was met with a massive blue barrier it had been shut up he didn’t understand so he trying squeeze himself through nearly hurting himself I have to again pick him up kicking and screamed I wanted to just go home at this point.
I felt bad for Beau and Poppy having to help we go to the park Woody still kicking and screaming still not understanding. As we enter I can see his little brain working and processing he stares at the tree blowing in the wind and his body starts to relax.
I wanted to cry on the spot because being a sen parent you can’t cater the world to your child and the world is often not set out for them people aren’t always so understanding but our day flipped woody found a giant planter full of dirt he was loving life 2 families sat opposite it woody is stuck in a loop but he suddenly noticed the 2 families 1 a mum with her 3 children and 2 a couple. He looks at the first family and pokes his head into the pram looks at the baby and touches their foot Id never really see him pay people much attention I apologises seeing woody hands dusty from the dirt the said don’t be it’s fine he then runs to the next bench with the couple who are both in shorts 🫠 and woody starts stroking their legs I apologise and explain he has autism and he loves touch at times they also said no need and he is a beautiful little boy and they enjoyed watching him. In that moment I wanted to cry 2 families showing us grace and kindness for seeing Woody.
I’m glad I stuck it out even though no one done anything wrong it can be really overwhelming feeling like you or your child is being judge when more often than not people don’t understand.
