Disclaimer: I am writing through a very thick layer of vacation brain fog. This is a state of being where you don't have thoughts with much intensity, you are not sure what you need to be doing moment to moment, and your mind  feels mushy. I often have this after being away, but this time, it seems more so. My soul is pleasantly bloated.

There's one thing  I am particularly good at doing when I go away. No, it's not packing light. Or eating modestly. It's detaching. I detach very well from home and in particular, from Kyle. Lest this sound harsh in any way, I believe it is a healthy thing to do. Kyle is a high maintence kinda guy. As you know, if you're a regular reader, because of the challenges he faces, he needs a lot of support. And it's not just physical, "in the trenches" support, it's life support. By that, I mean someone to manage his life: me.  Coordination of the people and activities in his life, medical appointments, decisions that affect the micro and macro of his well being. With full life support, are responsibilities, large and small, which impact him as well as the rest of our family. Together with this, is a degree of worry or concern about making the "right" decision, whatever that means.

Although Kyle goes to a program during the day, there is a 24/7 degree of mental and emotional energy expended in his direction. I may not always be with him physically, but sometimes my mind is with him or about him. And even if it's not 100%, it is playing as background noise in my emotional psyche. This seems to come with the territory of being mom to a son with autism. There is not the same "letting go" as when  typical children become adults.

Here's where detachment comes in to play. Once I am on the road or the plane and the last note as been left and the final residual text message has been sent, I'm done. My psyche enters another realm. And I don't find it difficult. As long as I am confident in the person with Kyle, it's fairly easy for me to detach. Even when Kyle has been in crisis mode, I have been pretty successful at it.

My main strategy is not to check in at home very often. I didn't realize it was a strategy until a few years ago. It is something that has just come naturally for many years without much thought. Obviously, I do care about what's happening with Kyle at home. And my agreement with his caregivers is that they can contact me at anytime if they feel they need to or want to. It does not have to be an emergency. I trust them to know when they need to contact me.

I do call, but I don't call every day. I used to feel just a bit guilty about this, but I no longer do. Not calling affords me the luxury of not becoming mentally or emotionally drawn in to what's going on at home. In other words, drawn back in to the job from which I am trying to take a break.

A couple of days before we left on this vacation (road trip to Durango, CO to meet our daughters and son-in-law), Kyle began showing signs of an impending cycle. He had not had one in 13 1/2 months and of course, in our minds, they were/are gone for ever. Dang full moon. But of course he made it through 13 moons without one so we are not sure what is going on. He wasn't 100% ok when we left on Wednesday but he was ok enought to go to his program.

One of the few nights I called, I learned he was indeed in some form of a cycle though fortunately not of the debilating type he had previously. But of course, my mind latched on to that and easily went into worry and problem solving mode. Not to an extreme, but I definitely left the light hearted vacation place to go there for awhile. Fortunately, my girls are so silly sometimes, they are a balm to any serious thoughts I may be tempted to grab on to.  I wasn't able to stay on that  path for very long. I returned to vacation mind fairly easily.

Today, I'm kind of enjoying this mushy mental state. I'm wondering how I can hang on to a few morsels of this feeling as a permanent part of my psyche. Photos and memories? Extra deep breaths? Taking life a bit less seriously? Hmmm.

Detaching is a great balm for my emotional health.  I believe it makes me a better human when I reattach. I engage with Kyle with renewed patience and a relaxed and easier attitude. My mushy self is  more loving and appreciative. 

It's good. Very very good.

Nature is a great detachment balm.

 Sports and Fitness Center (SPOFIT) here in Phoenix, Arizona is a very special place. It is not brand new, but definitely new to me. I'm not sure how I missed it for the year or so it has been open. SpoFit is a gym especially adapted in a multitude of ways for people with physical disabilities. I realize sometimes the word disability is considered politically incorrect, but the gym proudly uses this terminology in the description boldly stated on the front of the building. Virginia G. Piper Sports and Fitness Center... for Persons with Disabilities.

"SpoFit’s mission is to provide exceptional adaptive sports, recreation, aquatic and fitness programs that promote the independence, health and overall well being of people with disabilities and their family members."

Last Monday I went with Kyle and Angelica (his program 1:1) to check out SpoFit and discover why my friend who has a teen with autism was raving about it. All we had to do was enter the building to understand her enthusiasm.

No weird looks or stares. Nice. We were immediately welcomed and offered a guided tour. Kyle's interest was peaked by the 1/4 mile softly cushioned track on the second floor above the basketball court and adaptve rock wall. The stress of being at a brand new place and not being sure what was going to happen or what was expected, was eased a bit when Kyle saw the track. He walks a similar track at a local community center. He wanted to take a brisk lap before proceeding to the amazing weight room.

Machines of every type filled the large open weight room. So many choices and all potentially adaptable to people with different challenges and abilities. The room was quiet and nearly empty at the time we were there which was a nice way for Kyle to take it in for the first time.

Our guide patiently answered our questions. He told us that he worked out there and also worked on the floor during some hours helping people use the machines.

Next stop, the pool area. Two heated pools and a jacuzzi. The pools have various adaptive ways (elevator!, lifts, etc.) of getting in and some nice user friendly stairs with railings which is perfect for Kyle. He often has trouble in unfamiliar pools. An enthusiastic aquatics instructor was proud to give us the complete low down about the pool facility.

SpoFit has various classes, activities, and events for participation by a wide range of people with varied challenges. They are ultra accommodating and even allow people of the opposite sex to use the locker rooms when necessary. They recognize people who go there may need assistance and their goal is clearly to make the gym accessible. They offer sessions with a recreation therapist at very reasonable prices. In fact, the price of a 12 visit punch card or monthly memberhship is extremely reasonable and comparable (or better) to the large chain gyms around town.

I feel like I have just discovered a gold mine. This will be a great place for Kyle, especially in the summer. More importantly, it is a place he can use comfortably with many of the obstacles he (we) face already eliminated. Now he will just have to get comfortable on some of that amazing equipment. Exercise is such an important outlet for all of us, including Kyle.

Should people with special needs or disabilities have their own special gym? What about inclusion and accommodation at any gym? There can be  obstacles for some people at regular gyms who often need more accommodation than a special parking place.

I believe this "special gym" is a really great thing. It's such a relief to be in an environment that gets it. Kyle can be Kyle and it's ok. Love that.

PS  "The Virginia G. Piper Sports & Fitness Center (SpoFit) believes that no one with a disability should be excluded from the benefits of physical fitness, recreation and participation in sports due to lack of financial ability. SpoFit relies on donations to offset the costs involved in operating the center." Just sayin :-) 

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http://www.spofit.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/2013-SpoFit-Logo.png

This is so powerful! Very worth the  view to hear the process which leads to the powerful conclusion at the end. Would love to hear your thoughts. I am still digesting this.

The Power of Vulnerability

Hope you all had a wonderful Mother's Day.