The word 'adventure' conjures up many different ideas for different people. The first thing in our heads might be something that happened on a camping trip or a vacation somewhere. Why is that? Is it that something happened that was unexpected? Sometimes we hear people say, "Well I had quite an adventure today." And then they tell of a mishap on the road or someone extraordinary they ran into while out and about. Books are often entitled, The Adventures of ... and they tell stories of intrigue, real or imaginary.
We would venture to say that the word adventure generally elicits a positive response from people. It makes one curious about what the 'adventure' is or was. Even if the adventure turns out to have a negative ending, there is something mysterious and engaging about the idea that something happened to someone that was unexpected. Our natural curiosity leads us to want to know what happened to that person. Certainly titles of books contain that word because authors believe people will want to read the book that tells of adventure. Perhaps that is one of the reasons the Harry Potter books, which are full of adventures, are one of the most popular books among kids in the 21st century.
Helen Keller said "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature". For many of us life can be very difficult, certainly in these difficult economic times or raising a child who has a mental health or physical disability. One might awaken in the morning with a feeling of depression or anxiety in anticipation of another day of dealing with the familiar problems that must be confronted. What would it be like to wake up in the morning and look at this day as an adventure? Think of some small unexpected thing you could do on your own or with your child.
There is always risk involved in trying new things, even in trying to make an adventure out of an ordinary day, but if you don't try, if you don't risk, you will most likely encounter another day very similar to the ones you know so well. Risking new things makes you strong and it sets an example for your children so that they won't be afraid to step out and try something new.
Perhaps you might get up early and put on some music that your child isn't used to hearing and you say to your child. "This music reminds me of".....
Walking in the woods. Why don't we take a walk when you get home this afternoon? We'll take a snack and go somewhere we've never been before.
Being in the kitchen with my mother when I was young. Why don't we make cookies after your homework is done?
Planting a beautiful garden. Why don't we go to the garden centre after school and buy some seeds to plant or a potted plant to watch grow in the kitchen. If you've never read The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, you could combine the reading of this book with your planting. Like the word adventure, secret arouses the curiosity of a child.
Some other ideas
Going fishing
Having tea by the fire place
Painting the bedroom a different colour
Walking at the old church and imagining the lives of the people whose names are on the gravestones
Creating a treasure hunt in the back garden
Although it is well know that youngsters with autism do not like change, once in a while an attempt at adventure can be very positive. The reality is that we live in a world that is full of changes, and perhaps a small change in routine for both parent and child is worth the risk. You can start off with a small adventure and gradually add more as the child adapts to changes into their schedule. You can also do something that is fairly routine, but by bringing it up at an unexpected moment, it changes your routine into an adventure. These small adventures can be combined with other things that can be done in the afternoon or on weekends and both you and your child can look forward to the activity.
Sometimes it is so difficult to get outside ourselves and our daily routines to think in terms of broadening our perspective and opening ourselves to the possibility that life may hold in store for us something unintended, some adventure that might open yet another door of intrigue and add dimension to our lives.
