Post by @web21104

Today was a BIG first for Brett…and honestly, a pretty big first for me too. ❤️ For the first time ever, I decided to take Brett into a restaurant, sit down at a table, and actually eat a meal together. I was nervous as heck before we ever walked through the door. 😂 I knew there was going to be a mess. I knew keeping his hands under control while trying to eat was going to be a challenge. And I had no idea how Brett was going to handle being in that environment for an entire meal. So before I even brought him inside, I went in and talked to the restaurant owner. I explained Brett to him and told him straight up what we were attempting and that there was probably going to be food on the floor when we were finished. 😂 He was completely understanding and put us over in a corner where we'd have a little more room and wouldn't be right in the middle of everybody. Then it was time to get Brett inside. There wasn't a wheelchair ramp going into the entrance we were using, so I decided to walk him in. That part will get to you a little bit when you watch the video. You can hear Brett breathing and wheezing from the walk. Something that seems like such a short, simple walk for most of us is WORK for him. But he made it inside and we got him to the table. ❤️ Then we sat down…and that's when I realized my original plan wasn't going to work. 😂 I sat beside Brett thinking I could help him eat while his brother recorded us and let everybody watching the LIVE see how the experience went. NOPE. 😂 Brett would not leave me alone. He was constantly reaching for me, touching me, grabbing at me and messing with everything while I was trying to eat and help him. His brother finally had to put the camera down and get involved. We switched seats. His brother sat beside Brett, and I moved across the table. That worked MUCH better. 😂 Between the two of us, we could redirect his hands back and forth and actually manage to eat. And somewhere in the middle of all this, something happened that couldn't have been planned any better. A birthday party came in. 🎂 They started singing Happy Birthday and everybody started clapping. Brett absolutely LOVED IT. 😂❤️ He was having the time of his life watching everybody, listening to the singing and hearing all that clapping. He loves people, he loves music, and suddenly his first restaurant experience had turned into a party. Watching him enjoy that made all the anxiety I had going into this worth it. Eventually we finished eating, and then I looked underneath the table… OH. MY. GOODNESS. 😂😂 The floor was horrible. Food everywhere. And that's probably the part that gives me the most anxiety about taking Brett somewhere like this. I know people may see us leave and look at that floor without knowing anything about Brett or what it took for us to have that meal. I shouldn't worry about what strangers think…but I do. So I tipped extremely well—honestly, more than the meal was worth—because I appreciated that restaurant giving us the opportunity, treating Brett kindly, and understanding that sometimes bringing him into their world comes with a little extra cleanup. But you know what? WE DID IT. ❤️ For the first time, Brett walked into a restaurant, sat down at a table with his dad and brother, ate a meal, listened to a birthday party sing and clap, watched all the people around him…and had an AWESOME time. Was it easy? Nope. Was it clean? DEFINITELY NOT. 😂 Was Dad's anxiety through the roof? Absolutely. But that's exactly why I did the LIVE. I wanted people to see the whole experience—not some edited version where everything looks perfect. This is what trying something new with Brett can look like. Sometimes it's messy. Sometimes plans have to change halfway through. Sometimes his brother has to put the camera down and jump in. 😂 But sometimes you take the chance…and your kid has the time of his life. After we finished, we headed on to Fort Smith and stopped to get a massage. I'd say after Brett's first restaurant adventure, we earned that one. 😂