17/08/2025
I wish that this experience of ours was the rule, not the exception.
This week, I celebrated my birthday. I thought I’d treat myself with some self care preparing for an evening out with friends.
I’ve been going to for a while now and have previously mentioned that my daughter is autistic.
I tend to go by myself, as this is protected time for self care, however often I postpone it because I didn’t think Melody would be able to cope with the busy environment of a saloon.
As soon as walked through the door, we were received with warmth. Everyone got a hug from Melody and while I expected to have to constantly keep an eye on her while I received the treatments, they distracted Melody, painted her nails pink and let me have my usual and very deserved self-care time.
They didn’t know Melody before, they knew she is autistic and nonetheless they didn’t treat her any differently. She was happy all along because she felt safe.
So, I wanted to share.
Because in a world where we often have “the looks”, where our neurodivergent children are treated differently, there is hope and I’m grateful to encounter these pleasant experiences, even though that might be the exception and not the rule.
