He won’t be carrying a blue bucket.
There is an overwhelming trend to have children with special needs carry a blue bucket signifying they have autism.
While I don’t begrudge any parent who feels this will be helpful and promote tolerance and acceptance of their children, it doesn’t get us where we need to go in the long run.

He may not say trick or treat.
He may parrot what you say.
He may not wait in line for his candy or say thank you.

He may roll on the sidewalk and have an ever loving fit because something has gone awry in his beautiful mind, but still, buckets aren’t for us.
I mean, we can’t carry them everywhere.

Halloween is one night and the other 364 days?

We will be at the soccer field running away.

We will be in restaurants on an iPhone.
We will be in bathrooms terrified of the hand dryer.
What do I do then?

I talk.
I make conversation and I talk about the little boy who has shown me the road less traveled is not a bad path.

It’s just different.
HE is different.

Maybe everyone could just be kind.
Maybe everyone could take a minute and think about that they don’t know everything about a child or his “bad behavior” and how it’s not simply bad.
Maybe everyone could throw the rules out and hand out candy with no expectations.
Inclusion and acceptance and tolerance are behaviors and not just expected when a bucket is on display.

Smile at the families who are chasing and leading and prompting their little people- even if they don’t have the proper bucket.

He matters that much. 💙