Let’s Get Real for a Minute – This Is Just Part of the Journey

So… we got our first black eye the other day! And let me tell you—our kid took it like an absolute champ. 💪 He’s in jiu-jitsu and during sparring, well, these things happen. At first glance, it just looked a little puffy. No big deal.

Fast forward a bit—he’s playing with his brother at home (because of course he is), and bam—he bumps the same eye again. This time, he was not so chill about it. He came out crying, saying it really hurt. We were close to bedtime, so I tried to keep things calm. I said, “Hey, if you want dessert, go grab some, then let’s get ready for bed.”

His response? “I don’t want dessert—I just want an ice pack.”
Alright buddy, let’s get you that ice pack. 🧊

The next morning, I was up way too early (hello, insomnia 🙃), and he came upstairs asking about his eye again. I reassured him—it looked much better than expected, and should be cleared up in a couple of days. But about 15 minutes later…the questions started rolling in.

🧠 “What’s the difference between a black eye and pink eye?”
🧠 “What is a black eye?”
🧠 “Is it just a bruise?”
…and more. Lots more.

This is something we see a lot with him—and it’s super common in neurodivergent kiddos, especially those on the spectrum. What seems like a tiny moment to us can feel huge to them. The questions often come on repeat, not to be annoying, but because it’s part of how they process and feel safe.

Does it get repetitive? Sure.
Is it frustrating sometimes? Absolutely.
But this is just part of their wiring. And meeting them where they are—with calm, consistent answers—helps more than anything.

(Also… it’s day two. First thing this morning? “How’s my eye look now? Is it still a black eye?”
Yes, buddy. Yes it is. 😄)