My daughter is now 17.  She still loves stories  which end with “happily ever after”.  Most of the  time that is fine.  I will read whatever she wants.  But then I realise I haven’t given her a chance- another year has gone by and I haven’t refreshed the books on her shelf.  I look out more “age appropriate” books, or at least books that are the next level up, that will stimulate her brain with new ideas and ways of looking… Sometimes she likes them, more often than not she prefers to stay with the  familiar….

And I ask myself, that old question, I have asked myself so often, what is best?  The old books clearly mean so much to her.  They are familiar, she knows the pictures, she is autistic.  Of course she loves them.  But…

Shouldn’t I be encouraging her to something new?

Shouldn’t I be the one to open her mind to new and maybe wonderful experiences?

Shouldn’t I know what is best?

Shouldn’t I know?

Well, I don’t. 

I know she needs her autistic behaviours to feel comfortable.  Why would I take those away? I also know she does get bored and does enjoy new things.  I also know it can be a struggle for her not to fall into “same old same old ” because its so much easier…

Oh that sounds familiar!  That sounds like me.

That sounds like when I always go the same style of clothes in the store.  That is the image of myself that I know when I look at myself in the mirror.  Why would I try on a fitted jacket when I am used to casuals, or shiny if I am used to plain…

We all know that.  We know that transition can be hard.  We know that some of us crave  change but very many more of us prefer to stay the way we are.  And even the person who constantly craves change has found their comfort zone.  They would feel trapped without  change.

So who am I to take my daughter away from “happily ever after”. 

And who am I not to?