We returned from our first real family vacation this past weekend after 6 days away from home. We had a cabin in Vermont at a great family campground with a start to the trip that was delayed by an emergency surgical procedure for Laura. A late start meant a disruption to the vacation plans Curtis had already agreed too, slightly raising his anxiety level about the trip already containing mostly unknowns. The vacation was a huge success and Curtis now has an answer to the question he posed to his mom a few months ago, "Mom, what's a vacation?".
      In most ways, Curtis' autism did not manifest itself to the point where we made a point about discussing it with other people. We left interpretation of his obvious uniqueness open to many parents and discussed it rather thoroughly with others.  As far as friends, he mostly stuck with younger children and girls close to his age. Some of the boys his age kept asking how old he was and were largely stuck on the developmental differences of Curtis and the other 7 year old boys. This is often the case with boys his age however. Indeed, none of the 7 and a half year old boys carried a Smurfette doll around and gave it a voice narrating van rides to the lake. Curtis couldn't care less that there were boys who didn't think it was cool.
      Our first night at the camp we realized that before dinner, families staying at the camp meet on the dining hall steps where they are told of entertainment lined up for the evening and other events pertaining to the camp. Curtis wanted no part of this ritual and went out to the rock pictured above and ignored the meeting. Not completely ignoring it of course. He found the need to let out loud, nervous laughter to the group while the director spoke. This drew the glare of several "high brow" parents but we figured it was worth Curtis working through this process and not forcing him to sit with the group and make a scene. He never really integrated into this meeting over the course of the week but he did manage to keep quiet at a nearby table during the nightly address.
       Activiti es at the camp went according to a sign-up sheet and the second morning at the camp, I signed up me and Curtis to play wiffle ball. It was difficult to get him there but when it turned out the time for wiffle ball was later in the day and he was instead expected to change directions and get basic tennis instruction, it did prompt an immediate meltdown. He did not take this sudden change in schedule in stride and made it impossible for the instruction to continue for the other kids. I ended up removing him from the scene in favor of some wind down time with just his family. These are really the only two instances that jump out at me as particularly difficult to handle while on vacation, though Laura may have other stories from activities they did together.
       The weather cooperated, the lake was open all afternoon and it was in the water where Curtis was his happiest. He conducted several concerts out on the docks with parents, kids, and staffers looking on and one staffer told us that getting to know Curt was the highlight of his week. In addition to his uninhibited dance and song routines, Curtis had many people laughing with his deadpan literal interpretations of a magic show and other activities and events that confused him. By weeks conclusion, he became a very popular camper, constantly being queried for conversation by kids and adults and rattling off the names of his new friends every night before bed.

Greg, Dad