tell me he will be just fine...!

[MedusaIsHavingABadHairDay]

DS2 is going away this weekend with the teenage group at church.
He is 15 but not.. has ASD, learning difficulties, hypotonia and is very gentle sweet and trusting and has no idea about how the world works. He started going to church 6 months ago...he wanted to because the vicar who comes to his special school is very enthusiastic It's lovely for him as he believes everything he is told, likes rules etc.. and is a way of him being part of the local community.

I'm an atheist but take him and enjoy the hymns!

But he's going off tomorrow to a christian camp weekend.. adventure and bible study, and it is the first time he has ever been away with a mainstream group of people:( They are camping (in this weather) doing lots of physical stuff, and he will be sharing a tent.

I am so worried. They don't know HOW impaired he is..they are very nice but he is so anxious about everything, so naive. He also has a bit of a cold..nothing major, but if he gets cold and wet he won't know to get dry clothes etc and he always ends up with a major chest infection if he isn't sorted fast.

He wants to go.. he deserves to go, it's only friday to sunday..but I am still so worried. I want to wrap him up in cotton wool and keep him by my side forever:/

Slap me

Not going to slap you. Of course you're worried. Not sure I could actually cope with my DS 15 doing a weekend camp even if he wanted to. Ironically our situation is the exact opposite of yours. I am a believer (just about anyway) but Ds will have nothing to do with church. He tells me I am entitled to my delusions.

Is there someone at church you can brief on what to look out for? Or am I teaching my grandmother to suck eggs?

He will be absolutely fine. I have taken a girl with what sounds like similar health problems as your ds away with me for Guide camp. The other girls did not know HOW impaired she was, but they did know she was different and looked out for her. Obviously we did as leaders too, I was pretty much always keeping a discreet eye on her to make sure she was managing, she never noticed how much we were all checking up on her well-being.

I am sure the leaders and other teens will behave in a similar fashion with your ds. He will have a whale of a time. You will have a very worried weekend, then wonder what you were worried about when he comes home and tells you all about it.

Good luck.

Oh good on him!

Is there anyone (one or two specific, responsible people) you can speak to beforehand to look out for him - and maybe give them a brief list of things to look out for (eg dry clothes), what to do if he gets anxious etc.

I'm sure of all the groups he could choose this must surely rank up at the top for being caring and looking out for others?

Is it far away? And can he contact you? The very worst that could happen is that you get a phone call asking to collect him... But I am sure you won't. He will be fine!

And plenty of for you this weekend

HE WILL BE FINE