Sky is a flight risk in the autistic diagnoses realm. These kids will take off in a heartbeat.
The other day we were leaving Chic-fil-A. I put Sky's coat on and Papa went to get some more drink.
I turned and Sky was gone.
I glanced in the small play area - no Sky.
Panic set in as I looked out the window!
Yes. He was outside!
In the dark.
Alone.
No fear.
No sense of danger about traffic.
I ran out the door and down the sidewalk calling his name.
Begging him to stop.
He never looked back.
He was in his 'deaf zone' - walking ahead, stepping-on-and-off the curb, scaring me to death!
As he neared the roadway, I saw headlights coming from the drive-thru.
I ran faster, screaming for him to stop.
Suddenly, Sky saw our van and turned back toward it.
Relief. I knew he would head for the door near his car seat.
I scolded him as I put him in the car.
Wasted words.
There was no one there to hear me.
Autistic children are often lost in the tunnel of their own existence.