Gifts
Gift-giving and receiving are an important part of many families’ traditions. Whether your child is an enthusiastic opener, tearing off wrapping paper and bows like a crazy person, or whether they like to take their time, opening one toy and playing with it for a while, I think helping them find a way to say ‘Thank You’ is important. For a post sharing ideas on how to think outside the box in helping your child show gratitude, click the link below.
Each year, we made sure there was a gift under the tree from Michael to Will and one from Will to Michael. Will, our neurotypical son, could choose what he wanted to get Mikey. He could wrap it (with some help) and write the card. Mikey needed help with every step, but it felt important to me to have gifts from him. No matter how much i helped, he delivered his gift to Will on Christmas morning.
The joy of giving a gift that makes someone smile is a beautiful thing.
Happy Holidays, Everyone!
I hope you have peaceful days filled with love and nights with at least a few hours of glorious sleep.
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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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