【School Trip × Adaptive Chopsticks × Peace of Mind】A Teacher’s Words Lifted Two Years of Worry

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The One Item That Worried Me Most: Chopsticks

My son Gene attends a special education school,
and school trips come with a long list of items to prepare.
From other moms, I’d heard the same daunting message:

“You’ll need to bring tableware for every single meal!”

At the time, Gene was in 3rd grade.
And I knew—he couldn’t use regular chopsticks.
Disposable ones? Not happening.
Trying and failing might trigger a meltdown,
especially in an unfamiliar environment like a school trip.

Even one tiny stressor can tip the balance.
So I thought… maybe adaptive chopsticks?

Wait… One for Every Meal!?

The thing about adaptive chopsticks is—they’re not cheap.
And they break. Often.
Not because they’re poorly made,
but because Gene’s grip and strength are a bit intense.

I hoped we’d be done with them by 5th grade.
So I decided: Let’s practice!
We have two years. Surely, that’s enough.

Fast-forward two years.
Guess who’s still using adaptive chopsticks?
Yep. GENE. Loud and proud. 😂

Right Before the Trip, I Finally Asked…

As the school trip approached, I nervously asked the teacher:

“Do we really need to bring chopsticks for every meal?
Should I prepare several pairs of adaptive chopsticks?”

And the teacher replied:

“Oh no, we stopped that this year!
Students can just use what’s available at the meal.
If chopsticks are tough, they can use a spoon or fork. No problem!”

…Wait. Seriously?

That one sentence made all the tension disappear.
Gene may struggle with chopsticks,
but he’s great with a fork or spoon.
Being told that was okay—
was the best reassurance I could’ve asked for.

Visual Support Matters—Even in Packing

Since Gene can’t manage his own items,
we prepped everything in labeled bags.

Each set (e.g., pajamas, bath set, meal kit) went into a separate bag,
with large tape labels for easy identification.
It helped the teachers support all the students smoothly.

It reminded me:
Support isn’t just what happens during the trip.
Support begins with preparation.

Don’t Forget the Emotional Essentials

Of course, we brought one more crucial item:
Gene’s best buddy, Curious George the plush monkey.

The teachers encouraged bringing comfort items.
So George came along for the ride—
and helped Gene enjoy his trip even more 🐵