Last Saturday we took Max to DSW to buy a new pair of shoes. This has nightmare possibilities. Getting him to sit for measuring and trying on more than one pair is challenging to put it kindly. I gave up long ago braving it on my own with him. We never got thrown out of a shoe store but…let’s not go there. So after our trip, I thought to myself, self? That wasn’t so bad-dare I say it bordered on easy. Max cannot resist long aisles -they look like landing strips. And they BEG him to run back and forth with wild abandon. This is not unique to him-many autistic kids feel the same temptation. Think about every store you have shopped in-this is no small challenge. I would throw myself in front of him-trying to block this run with very little success. Then I would follow him so he wouldn’t bang into anyone, apologizing to customers and staff as I went. More than once I found him in the ladies dress shoes where he had squeezed his feet into the highest pair of “come f**k me pumps” and was trying to walk in them. I’ve even considered getting a pair in his size so he didn’t do the same with my shoes. Do not judge. 

This day tho-we attacked it with military precision. We walk in and see a familiar and kind face who remembers us…in a good way. Always a good sign. Bill sets out to find the measuring tool and shoes in a variety of sizes. I stand in the middle of the back aisle while Max runs back and forth laughing like a loon. People are smart enough to get out of the way and I say things like “he needs his exercise” and “he is practicing for the upcoming Olympics”. 

We get the signal from Bill that he is ready for us. We measure and try on 2 different sizes and the kind staff member helps us decide. This takes 1-2 minutes. Then with his new shoes on Max resumes his Olympic practice convincing us all that it is the correct size. I go and stand in the check out line while she cuts the alarm thingy off the shoes and they go out to the car. When I meet them there, I am not flop sweating…it’s a miracle. See–easy peasy.

I wish I had some of this insight in the moment but sometimes progress is only recognized when you are looking back.