A year later, autism is still like the courtesy car

A year ago I wrote about how autism was like a courtesy car. How my life didn't seem to fit into a different smaller vehicle. How I struggled to operate the controls and how it didn't drive the way I expected. This year I went to the same garage, got another different courtesy car and had a whole new realisation about how far we've come.

I'd already had to postpone the car MOT and service once having lost my drivers license. But eventually the day came round and I remembered last time I'd been given a tiny little bright orange car. Although by the end of the day I'd had the vehicle I viewed it as cute and quirky, I'd also remembered how it had been a bit awkward.

So, this year I got organised for it. The last courtesy car had been smaller. So after dropping the kids at school I went back home and emptied out things I didn't need. Two car seats, the scooter and buggy were decanted into our hall way.

The last courtesy car was a basic model so had a heater instead of climate control. I remembered getting hot, so I switched out of my big coat and grabbed a light jacket. I also remembered that the pedals were more sensitive and switched my heavy soled boots for my converse so it would be easier to drive.

OK, that should make things easier I thought.

Funny, how it goes, isn't it.

We weren't given the tiny little vehicle like last time. We had a new Tippo. A bigger car though not as bit as our usual one. But my preparation meant getting everything in at the garage was super easy.  It still had light pedals and basic controls but at school time I was easily able to fit everything back into the car. We had to keep the car over the weekend and it wasn't a problem at all. It fitted into our life fine.

And it hit me.

In many ways it's like autism in our family all over again.

I've learned how to make things work with the new model. I'm thinking ahead to what we might find difficult, where we might not fit, and then looking at how to make things work. I've prepared for, dare I say the worst, so things are easier for us.

And it's not just me.

Our kids with autism have changed too, just like the car. They have grown so that not only do we work better with them, but they work better with us. In fact the whole family operates better together.

I smiled. Who'd have thought I'd learn so much from our courtesy car. Who'd thought I'd learn so much from my kids. Happy.