So interesting looking through the world through Anna's eyes. I've posted many times and I think she's opening my eyes to the wonders of the world, as well as the simplicity of it all.
At stores she wants to ask for things from sales people, something so adorable. I'm usually there to translate, like when she asked for my prescription the other day with simply the name Kempton. So proud of her and how she's learning to socialize. Unfortunately when it comes to children her own age, her peers, that's where she has the most trouble fitting in.
The other day we were at the water splash park, one of Anna's favorite weekly activities. She follows children around looking for someone to play with. She tends to find someone younger who will want to play, run and go down slides with. Yet, this day she saw two little girls who were closer to her age, even perhaps older... But my perception of age is skewed, having a smaller language challenged girl. These two girls were friends, chasing each other and sliding together. Something that obviously intrigued Anna as she ran after them smiling. I was hesitant and had every right to be as it turned out. The girls went down the slide with my little one right after them. As they all landed in the shallow water, laughing together for a brief moment, Anna stood and this little girl pointed at her and said something that broke my little one's spirit. Her shoulders drooped, head bowed, she headed in my direction. I hugged her and asked what happened. She informed me that this little girl told her no, not to slide with them. She was crushed.
In that second, I thought... The lonely life of autism... How can I fix this? My beautiful child with such a loving spirit, "are you my happy girl still?" "Yes", she said quietly. "Then you walk away from those mean girls, and go have fun! This is not their pool. Show them, you are a happy girl and they can't make you sad!"
I gave her a kiss, and she walked away. She wasn't as confident as her usual self, but she had some spring back in her step. Within a few minutes she found someone else to chase and slide with, but I could see a sadness in her eyes. I say there watching her, knowing i won't be there to protect her forever. I remembered a few days earlier her horse riding instructor saying we needed to toughen her up. She said not everyone was going to be nice to her, she wouldn't be a cute tiny girl forever. That people would be mean and Anna needed to brush off what they said and not get upset and let it hurt her. And here, so soon afterwards, her words were ringing true. I thought to myself, the lonely life of autism. The happy child who just wants to share her joy with you... And the people who walk away.
At stores she wants to ask for things from sales people, something so adorable. I'm usually there to translate, like when she asked for my prescription the other day with simply the name Kempton. So proud of her and how she's learning to socialize. Unfortunately when it comes to children her own age, her peers, that's where she has the most trouble fitting in.
The other day we were at the water splash park, one of Anna's favorite weekly activities. She follows children around looking for someone to play with. She tends to find someone younger who will want to play, run and go down slides with. Yet, this day she saw two little girls who were closer to her age, even perhaps older... But my perception of age is skewed, having a smaller language challenged girl. These two girls were friends, chasing each other and sliding together. Something that obviously intrigued Anna as she ran after them smiling. I was hesitant and had every right to be as it turned out. The girls went down the slide with my little one right after them. As they all landed in the shallow water, laughing together for a brief moment, Anna stood and this little girl pointed at her and said something that broke my little one's spirit. Her shoulders drooped, head bowed, she headed in my direction. I hugged her and asked what happened. She informed me that this little girl told her no, not to slide with them. She was crushed.
In that second, I thought... The lonely life of autism... How can I fix this? My beautiful child with such a loving spirit, "are you my happy girl still?" "Yes", she said quietly. "Then you walk away from those mean girls, and go have fun! This is not their pool. Show them, you are a happy girl and they can't make you sad!"
I gave her a kiss, and she walked away. She wasn't as confident as her usual self, but she had some spring back in her step. Within a few minutes she found someone else to chase and slide with, but I could see a sadness in her eyes. I say there watching her, knowing i won't be there to protect her forever. I remembered a few days earlier her horse riding instructor saying we needed to toughen her up. She said not everyone was going to be nice to her, she wouldn't be a cute tiny girl forever. That people would be mean and Anna needed to brush off what they said and not get upset and let it hurt her. And here, so soon afterwards, her words were ringing true. I thought to myself, the lonely life of autism. The happy child who just wants to share her joy with you... And the people who walk away.