Well… it finally happened. After two years, our luck finally ran out and Covid came a’knocking at our door, taking all three of us off our feet.
I should have been expecting it really, it’s been absolutely everywhere the last few weeks, and rates are higher than ever. That being said, we got off very lightly, and none of us experienced anything worse than a really really heavy dose of cold, so I’m very grateful.
The real consequences of us having Covid was Noah’s routine going up the creek. As some of you will already know, routines are your best friend when raising an autistic child! Noah is very flexible when it comes to his routine, we can change and adapt activities without much issue, but he still needs to have a basic pattern to his week in order for his behaviour and his mood to stay relaxed and happy, and Covid destroyed his usual pattern!
Instead of being stimulated and exhausted by preschool, swimming and going out with me on days off, we were confined to the front room day after day, watching episode after episode of HeyDuggee because neither of us had the energy for anything else. Whilst on the face of it Noah was happy to watch his favourite programme, by the time we were snuggling him into bed the effects were clear. Squealing, excessive stimming, frustration and tantrums showed his real feelings about being stuck indoors all week. He couldn’t understand why we weren’t going anywhere else, why he hadn’t been to preschool, seen anyone other than mummy and daddy, or anyone else for that matter, not to mention the stress that covid testing him was causing. Whoever decided that toddlers should be tested for anything by tickling their brains with a cotton bud has clearly never had to negotiate with a tiny angry human.
Nevertheless, we bundled through the sleepless nights and “death by duggee” and made it safely out the other side. Noah returned to preschool this week (just in time to go off again for half term!) and made the most of every minute. I was bombarded with photographs of his antics, climbing furniture, smothering himself in playdough, sneaking extra yoghurts, working out how to flood the bathroom sink, pushing as many boundaries as possible and keeping the nursery leaders on their toes. I’m just grateful they found it funny and cheeky (I was definitely mortified about the sink!).
After missing two weeks at swimming, he went back this week with a whole new level of confidence, pushing himself completely under the water for the first time ever, and giggling at his own daring!
It’s safe to say he has returned to his usual schedule with a bang, and lord help anyone who gets in his way.
He’s on a mission to make up for lost fun, and nothings going to stop him!
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