By: Jenna L. Thompson
Recently, a friend shared a delightful photo of her infant son perched on Santa’s lap, a snapshot filled with joy and holiday spirit. Such images are cherished by many families, yet we lack a similar picture. We never attempted to take our son to meet Santa, and here’s why.
Before our son received his autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis, I instinctively recognized that a photo session with Santa would likely be unsuccessful. The simple act of loading him into the car, disrupting his routine, could lead to anxiety. An evening outing would only compound the stress of a day filled with sensory input.
The bustling mall environment—with its overwhelming sounds, unfamiliar odors, harsh fluorescent lights, and a flurry of movement—could easily trigger sensory overload. Add to this the prospect of waiting in a long line, potentially surrounded by other distressed children, and I anticipated an escalation in our son’s discomfort. The final straw would be placing him in the arms of a stranger obscured by a fake beard; this scenario had all the makings of a meltdown, and I was not willing to subject our family to that experience.
In moments of reflection, I see the captivating photo of my friend’s child and feel a twinge of longing for that traditional memory. However, this feeling is fleeting. Deep down, I always understood that the conventional photo with Santa would not justify the distress it could cause my son.
From early on in my parenting journey, I resolved to forego certain “traditional” experiences if they risked our son’s well-being. While we occasionally managed to capture a first day of school photo, many times we opted for pictures later in the year. We still created memories, just not in the expected way—and that was perfectly fine.
Upon considering it, we may have missed out on some typical family experiences in favor of our son’s comfort. However, what value do traditions hold if they aren’t enjoyed? Forcing ourselves into such situations could lead to distress rather than joy. The only lasting memory might have been the frustration and guilt associated with that experience.
Ultimately, we don’t have a Santa photo. What we do have is our son’s trust in us—a trust that we will prioritize his comfort over the pressure of tradition. For me, that assurance is the most significant outcome of all.
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Summary:
The article explores the decision of a parent not to take their son with autism to meet Santa, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing the child’s comfort over traditional experiences. The narrative highlights the potential stress caused by the environment and the value of cultivating trust between parent and child.
Keyphrase: Santa photo with son with ASD
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