The other day I wrote about how a local sporting event was awesome about making accommodations so Bambam could participate in a kids triathlon. But I didn't write about the actual race. The race coordinator and I came up with several great accommodations that I thought would work for him. They allowed us early access to the course so Bambam could go through it before the race. Bambam was allowed to start after all the other participants so the crowds would have a chance to die down. He was allowed to scooter instead of bike as he still cannot pedal a bike. The MC would stop and the music would be turned off before he came to the starting line. And I would be allowed to shadow him on the course as support. It seemed like it just might work.
However, as many of you with ASD kids know, we still didn't know if Bambam would follow through and actually do the race. He loves sports of any kind. He's very athletic and participates in several adaptive sports programs. But this would be his first experience in a typical sporting event since the disaster that was AYSO soccer in kindergarten. (I should write a post about that, but its still too traumatic for everyone involved.)
When we arrived at the event there were over 400 kids there to participate! Plus all their adults and the loud music and the MC.... Bambam's anxiety immediately kicked into high gear and he froze. Then he started his mantra of "I go home, I go home now, I. Go. Home. NOW!" My heart sank. I knew how badly he wanted to do this. How much he would get out of it if we could just get him past the anxiety.
Knowing he wouldn't start for well over an hour (they start 2 at a time; 400 kids), we opted to wait (read hide out) in the adjacent building where it was quiet and we had a front row seat to the start. At first he spent his time on the other side of the room, occasionally even going outside on the other side away from the event. But slowly over time he began to occasionally wonder by the window and watch. By the time the last participants were getting ready to take off he was not only outside watching them but he was dancing around to the music and asking when it was his turn! We got in line.
When he got to the front of the line he hesitated. I had to encourage him to go. And then he did, running to the inflatable obstacle course and jumping in. As he was going through it, he would stop to bounce. At that point I knew he was going to do this race his way, a way that allowed him to mitigate his sensory and anxiety issues. Bouncing helps to ground him when he's feeling overwhelmed. So he bounced like Tigger all the way through, taking his own sweet time. It was beautifully him.
He hesitated again before jumping into the pools to "splash". But once in, boy did he splash. He loves water and splashing and he made the most of his time in the pools. True to form, he again hesitated at the transition to the scooter. But with some prompting, he took off. And he took off fast; I struggled to keep up with him as I shadowed him along the course. He came to a complete stop twice while on his scooter; I almost ran into him the first time it was so sudden. A group of people along the course were cheering, as most people would do. It was too much for him. He stopped and said "no clapping, too noisy". I simply looked at the spectators with a smile and shrugged my shoulders. I no longer feel the need to explain to every casual person we happen to pass. They stopped clapping and off he went flying by some of the other participants he had caught up to.
At the transition to the run (known as T2 in the triathlon world) Daddy was waiting to take his scooter so he could run. Only problem was that Bambam refused to run without Daddy. Or me. So with a shrug at each other and the race officials the three of us took off hand in hand in hand. With lots encouragement, and the enticement of a medal, we crossed the finish line together. And I'm not ashamed to admit I had tears in my eyes.
I was so damn proud of that kid. I know how much he wanted to do his own race. And I also know how motivated he is by medals. And this was a big one. But I also know how difficult this was for him. What an assault it was on his senses. How he had to fight with everything he has just to be on that race course. And how much it took out of him. With his medal around his neck, he retreated to his room with his iPad to recover. But by the next day he was already talking about his next race. Score one for Bambam.
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