23 days

Along with the rest of the world, I have been watching the Paris Hilton saga unfold. Not on purpose. You can't get away from this stupid story. It is everywhere. Someone somewhere decided that this spoiled brat, who has done absolutely nothing to earn her place in society, is newsworthy. Much of the world is watching and laughing at her "misfortune".

This whole storyline is sad. It truly shows how corrupt our society has become. We live in a society ruled by social class. Those of us in the autism world know this all too well. Money talks. Even in the autism world. For example, we don't know what treatments will work--until we try them. It is trial and error. That is hard to do with limited finances. Ultimately, money gets treatment. A family with money can explore everything until they find the magic bullet for their child. Money equals a better chance at a brighter future. Yes, there is still a lot of work and luck involved but there is a chance for these elite children.

Children born to ordinary citizens are given very little chance to overcome. Very few of us have an extra $60,000 per year to spend on behavioral therapy. Very few of us have the continual stream of dough to navigate the DAN protocol. We do the best we can. We dabble in therapies and hope to find our magic bullet. We can't afford to devote time to a therapy unless it shows immediate gains. Most gains are not immediate. Many of us can't risk depleting our limited funds to ride it out. No overnight gains--time to move on. Simply because of their lot in life, our children may very well miss out. They may not get to develop to their full potential.

Money talks. Some of our kids can't.
Who do you think will be heard?

Enough of my soapbox. Anyway, back to the Hilton fiasco.

Tonight at supper my husband commented that it was sort of sad that Paris is pulling out all the stops to get out of jail and (based on my day from hell) I would probably willingly take her place. 23 days to myself might just be what I need! (Of course I would prefer 23 days in Hawaii.)

I thought I'd give some thought to how I would spend my 23 days in isolation. Imagine 23 days of solitude. Close your eyes and envision 3 weeks and 2 days without responsibilities. What would you do with those 23 days?

1. Sleep.

2. Listen to the silence.

3. Revel in the fact that I don't have to be somewhere. I'd have no schedule to keep!

4. Read a book from start to finish with no interruptions. Then read another.

5. Sleep.

6. Get to know the person I have become. (Currently I am not sure who she is)

7. Reflect on the lives of my children and journal the best and worst moments while they are still fresh in my mind.

8. Revel on the fact that I don't have to think and organize and constantly be engaging another human being.

9. Revel on the fact that I am alone! I am not responsible for another human being!

10. Sleep.

11. I can eat what is in front of me. I don't have to be a short order cook and prepare different foods for different picky eaters.

12. I wouldn't have to hear the same phrase 100 times an hour.

13. OMG! I can use the bathroom alone!

14. Reflect on my life: where I have been and where I want to be.

15. Sleep.

16. Investigate if I really do have any spirituality left in me.

17. Exercise. I wouldn't have an excuse not to!

18. Write letters to family and friends that I've lost touch with.

19. Breathe.

20. Sleep.

21. Listen to music. Real music not the Wiggles.

22. Take time to evaluate my life and really focus on what is important. Look for the big picture rather than the small stuff I always get hung up on.

23. Miss my family! But without a doubt they would be getting a better Mommy back when I returned!

Isn't it sad to fantasize about life in a jail cell?