Summer Trip 2025 — Chicago & Mexico
✈️ Part 1 — Chicago
This trip took a lot of planning.
To be honest, I was pretty nervous about it.
Felipe loves to travel — he loves flying, the movement and excitement around him. But traveling with him always takes extra thought and care. There are sensory challenges, long hours, unfamiliar spaces, and sometimes people who don’t really understand what we’re going through.
In the past, flights have been tough. Felipe can get frustrated when his tablet stops working or when the flight is too long — and not everyone around us reacts kindly. Those moments stay with you.
So this time, I planned every detail. I booked an overnight flight hoping Felipe would fall asleep soon after takeoff — and he did,and it felt like a win. He was so happy and excited to fly, proudly wearing his “Autism Is My Super Power” T-shirt from The Special Kind.
That shirt isn’t just cute — it helps people around us realize that Felipe is autistic, and it often changes the way they react.
When we landed in Chicago, my sister was waiting for us. It felt so good to be surrounded by family, love, and summer energy.
The first few days were hard. Felipe takes time to adjust to new environments, and my sister’s house has stairs — his favorite thing to explore! It was tiring, but after a couple of days, he settled in.
Bella, Felipe’s sister, was thrilled. She loves being around family and cousins. Chicago in the summer is one of our favorite places to be. We saw friends, went to block parties, and just enjoyed being together.
My husband, Marcelo, joined us later, and having him — plus my sister’s help — made all the difference. We’ve learned that having extra hands when we go out is essential. It allows us to enjoy both of our kids — Felipe and his sister, Bella — without feeling torn.
Traveling with a child with special needs means every moment takes a little more thought, a little more energy. It’s not the kind of trip where we can just hop on and off a bus, or take the subway without planning, or stay out all day without breaks. Everything has an extra step to it.
Every time we take a trip like this, I end up grateful we did it. The memories we make, the smiles, the laughter, and even the small victories — they remind me that while our version of travel might look different, but is really worth it !!
Next up: I’ll be sharing a little more about our time in Mexico 👉 Click here to read the next post!
