Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Muslimah Next Door

Home
Muslim
Snow Day in Autism Land

Snow Day in Autism Land

Last updated on: March 6, 2013 at 11:58 am by Dilshad Ali

Snow Day in Autism Land 2013-03-06T11:58:12-04:00 Dilshad Ali

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The bus is not coming today, and there will be no Wednesday afternoon swimming after school with the home therapist. He’s not venturing out to our home today. Eagerness to play outside as the winds blow and snow piles up? Anticipation of building a snowman and pelting his brother and sisters with snowballs, pulling out the sled and trying to slide down the front yard? Smashing snow in each other’s faces or down each other’s pants?

Yeah, not so much.

It’s 10:23 a.m. and the meltdowns are starting. While my younger two children built each other up all week with thoughts of “will it or will it not” happen in regards to today’s snow day, Lil D marched along to his own routine, seemingly oblivious of the chatter building in our house.

I love snow days, really I do. Growing up in North Dakota, the land of ice and snow, snow days were a rare thing of beauty – something to be cherished and enjoyed and celebrated when we got them (because like any good Midwesterner will tell you – you needed a helluva lot more than a few inches of snow and icy conditions to shut down school).

Snow days meant a fire in the fireplace. Piling on all the outerwear in layers upon layers (only to yell in a muffled voice behind a scarf tied tight over our mouths – Mom! I gotta go to the bathroom! Help me out of this stuff!). Playing outside in subzero temperatures, building snow forts, snow men, playing street hockey and slamming each other with painful snow/ice balls.

Then coming inside and peeling off layer upon layer of cold, wet, icy scarves, mittens, hats, face masks, snow pants, coats, sweaters, pants, boots and soggy socks. Putting the clothes in the dryer and jostling each other as we vied for space in front of the heating vent to thaw out our numb fingers and toes.

Gripping mugs of hot chocolate that burned our cold fingers as they warmed up. My mom’s kichiri/keema later for lunch, a treat instead of the cold sandwiches and thermoses of milk we packed into our hard metal Judy Jetson or Star Wars lunch boxes for school. Scooby Doo on the TV, then another trip outside to do it all over again.

Loved. The . Snow. Days.

And now, here on the East Coast when a few paltry inches shut down my kids’ schools (granted, it’s much more of a real snow storm today), the love of snow days is pretty much the same for my younger kids. They are lightweights when it comes to the snow, complaining of cold and wanting to come inside after a mere half hour, but the breathless anticipation of a snow day, the sheer joy of a DAY OFF from the daily grind is the same. I love that they are enjoying what I enjoyed as a kid.

Then there’s Lil D.

It is 10:42 and he’s still crying and banging his head intermittently on the arm of the sofa. My mother-in-law is sitting with him, telling Lil D, you have to put on your clothes and go outside! Make a snowman. Go have fun in the snow!

He is crying and making his escalation noises. He’s not having it. This is not his routine, this snow day. This is not what he knows.

My mother-in-law switches gears to do what she knows best: She recites verses of the Quran, du’as upon du’as (prayers) that she has memorized, engrained in her heart — pouring holy words over Lil D in hopes that God will intervene and calm him down.

Her faith. Would that I had her faith.

The snow continues to fall outside. Inches are piling up on the table on our deck. Hamza is whining to me, Get off the computer Mama. I want to go out. I want to go out nooooooooooow!!

The meltdown is fading. Lil D gets up and leads his Dadima (grandmother) over to the cabinet and says “koklet” – as in “I want chocolate.” I praise him – I like how you calmed down! And, good job using your words. Of course you can have some chocolate.

We push the reset button and move on with our day. Kids and I are heading outside for the requisite snow play and shoveling of the driveway. Lil D will stay inside with his grandparents. Later I’ll give him a warm bubble bath. And thank God, Baba is coming home early from work. He just called. We’ll get through this day, Insha’Allah (God willing).

Spoke too soon. The cries are starting again.

Previous Post

February 28, 2013

What We Can (and Must) Learn from Each Other

Next Post

March 13, 2013 'Mapping Muslims' - New Report Reveals Devestating Effects NYPD Surveillance has on Muslim Community

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category A Global Voice for Autism Autism Awareness Month 2016 Autism Awareness Month 2017 Autism Interlude Hajj and Eid ul Adha Jenin Autism Project Ramadan Three Questions Uncategorized WISE Global Conference

Select a Month November 2018 October 2018 August 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who was David's military commander and nephew?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Joab Ittai Benaiah Abishai