Animals
Animals seem to have an instant connection with Mikey. They instinctively know that he will adore them! This made sense to me with our dogs, but I was totally surprised when animals in captivity would respond to him through the glass. The otters at the aquarium were the first and they’re probably his favorite, but when the snapping turtle responded to him, I was blown away. Who is adored by a snapping turtle? Our Mikey, that’s who.
It made my mom laugh and the other kids thought it was hysterical too! Mikey had a snapping turtle admirer, how cute?!? At our local aquarium, Mikey always asks for the sea turtles. I wonder if his love of swimming turtles started with this affectionate snapping turtle. That truly seems like an oxymoron.
Also, I think the strict instructions from the aquarium staff were to touch the starfish with two fingers, but Mikey went in for the hug…this kid is too much. The aquarium staff seemed okay with it, and I was able to snap a quick picture before reminding Mikey of the rules.
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About the Author
Erica Mauro is a mom to two teenage boys, Will who is neurotypical and Michael with Autism and cognitive delays. She holds a BA in Psychology from Colgate University and a Masters of Psychology in Education from Columbia Teacher’s College. Before staying home with her children, she worked as an elementary school teacher. For five years, she served on the Board of Directors of the Molly Ann Tango Memorial Foundation, a charity dedicated to enriching the lives of children with special needs. In partnership with her husband Dave, she aspires to parent by using daily life as an opportunity for therapeutic intervention, seizing on real experiences as opportunities to build skills and strategies for Michael in a joyful, loving home environment. On the tougher early days, she just tried to get everyone safely to bedtime and start fresh in the morning. *wink* 
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