We Went for Cake ...

... and came back with the entire cash register!

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Twice a year my daughter's school has a Fayre, one in the summer and another in time for the festive season. There are little stalls, takeaway food, second hand uniform, and many other places including secondhand books and toys.

My son has never gone.

My son is autistic. A school fayre is theoretically my son's worst nightmare, with its crowds, music, noise, cluttered stalls and over-excited kids. So we have never taken him. While other families make it a family occasion, we don’t, it has always a meltdown waiting to happen.

“Shall we see if Rhys wants to come and get a cake. Then go home?” I asked my husband, thinking that a small step into something new and scary was always worth the chance.

“Let's try” so we did.

We went straight for the cake stall, no detours, no changes to the plan, and it went great! Rhys chose a vanilla cupcake, and we let him eat it right there on the spot. He had taken his first bite before we had handed over our 50p!

As my husband turned to head back home and leave me with our other kids to scout out the Fayre, Rhys pulled him in the opposite direction. “This way” said Rhys, pointing towards the classrooms which were heaving with people.

Rhys dragged his father through the corridors and classrooms, he checked out the corners and different new exciting places. After half an hour we swopped places, and me and Rhys ventured down to the main hall where the toys and books were all laid out.

Rhys approached the toy stall and grabbed a toy cash register, a smile immediately across his face. I sighed, he had the exact same one at home, but I handed over the payment, not caring about duplicating our toy collection. I didn't care because my son never chooses anything in shops or when out and about, he likes what he has - including a second cash register!

In total we were at the Fayre for an hour. That is an hour more than he has ever been. It was a massive win, and all we had planned on was a quick trip to get a cake!

As I watched other families walk around today I felt pride. We were there as a family too. It has taken so long and so many risks to make it happen, and there we were doing it.

Small things for others are huge things for us.

And when they are huge for you, you have permission to smile, punch the air and celebrate. Because you know when they are big - it doesn't matter what others think!

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