A Day of Chaos, a Radiant Autistic Girl, and a Lesson in Resilience

When Even a Banana Feels Like a Triumph

Today was the long-awaited school trip day! Manuela, my youngest daughter, who is nonverbal and autistic (level 3), was so excited. Why? The bus ride! For her, the trip itself was the main attraction, and nothing beats the joy of sitting by the window and watching the world go by.

My oldest daughter, Milena, also autistic (level 2), was coming with us. Although I don’t like the level classification, I understand that many doctors use it to simplify communication. Still, I believe every child should be evaluated individually. As Stephen Shore said: “If you’ve met one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism.”

The day started with a small victory: Manuela ate a banana and a sandwich without any resistance—something that almost never happens! She understood the connection between eating breakfast and the much-anticipated bus ride. Everything seemed perfect… until we left the house.

Chaos Begins: The Lost Car Key

As I grabbed my things, I realized the car key wasn’t in its usual place. After searching everywhere, I asked Milena to text her dad:

“Dad, where is the car key?”

The reply hit like a bomb: “Oops, I took it with me.” He went to work and took the car key! Can you believe it?

With no spare key (something I warned Marcio about when we bought the car), my only option was to call an Uber. I explained the situation to the school and begged them to hold the bus for a few extra minutes since Manuela was so excited. But chaos was just getting started.

The Phone Lost Along the Way

While rushing to the Uber, Milena accidentally dropped my phone. Along with the phone, my wallet was gone too—with all my cards and my “fortune” of 20Nzd.

Luckily, the Uber driver, Garry, an incredibly calm and kind Indian man, agreed to take me back to find it. I called the school and explained that Milena and her friend Mel would accompany Manuela on the bus while I met them at the park.

When we reached my street, there it was—my phone lying in the middle of the road, unharmed! No car had run over it. Another victory amid the chaos.

I called Garry for another ride, and he dropped me off at the park.

The Park Surprise and a Long Walk

When I got to the park, I thought everything was finally back on track. But no—the girls were on the other side of the park, a 30-minute walk away!

I felt frustrated but took a deep breath and decided to see it as a sign that I needed the exercise (let’s just say I’m a little over my ideal weight). Halfway there, it started to drizzle —as if the day wasn’t chaotic enough!

Then came the news: the trip was canceled due to the rain, and everyone was heading back to the school.

I was 10 minutes away from the bus, so I decided to run to catch it. I made it—another victory! Soaking wet and completely exhausted (I’m no fan of exercise), I climbed into the bus and found Manuela with the purest, happiest smile. For her, just riding the bus made the day a complete success.

Sweet Home? Not Quite

Exhausted, we went back home. But like any chaotic day, there was one more twist: I lost the house key.

After searching through bags and pockets, I thought about blaming Marcio for everything. But instead, I used some breathing techniques from Jay Shetty’s book “Think Like a Monk” (it’s a great read, by the way! This book have been save my life many time today Marcio's Life). Then I got an idea: check the windows.

One was open—the very one I had asked my lovely husband to close a few days ago. I thought: “At least no burglar thought to climb through it.” But looking on the bright side, we had a way in!

With Mel’s (Milena's Friend) help, we came up with a funny plan. Milena climbed through the window to unlock the door. It wasn’t easy, but it worked. During the chaos, we even found Milena’s long-lost key. Another small victory.

A Moment of Reflection

The day was chaotic but filled with small wins. Later, Garry, the Uber driver, called to say he’d found my house key and brought it back to me.

About Marcio? I’m still deciding how he’ll make up for this adventure caused by his forgotten key. Ideas are welcome!

Jokes aside, the day brought important lessons. In the midst of the rush, confusion, and sheer exhaustion, Manuela’s radiant smile reminded me what truly matters. Her joy on the bus showed that sometimes, the simplest things bring the most happiness.

The girls’ progress was another highlight. Manuela not only understood the importance of eating before the trip, but she also followed instructions without hesitation. Milena laughed at the challenges, found her own key after ages, and even climbed through a window! Small steps, but huge milestones.

This experience taught me the importance of staying positive during chaos. Taking deep breaths, laughing at situations, and focusing on progress are powerful tools. Even when things go out of control, there’s always something to be grateful for, something to celebrate.

At the end of the day, I realized that chaos doesn’t dim the light of our victories—it only makes them shine brighter.

And you?

When was the last time you found beauty in chaos?

Take a moment to reflect on your own small victories — the quiet, simple moments that make life meaningful.

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