Hugs and Kisses
A thought occurred to me recently…Mikey sometimes gives hugs and kisses differently than other people. He’s a fan of the side-hug and sometimes a front-ways hug is too much for him, but he will turn around and let you give him a squeeze.
He is affectionate. His face lights up when he sees people he knows, making them feel seen and appreciated. He gives great high fives and smiles!
I can count on one hand the number of kisses Mikey has landed on my cheek. He blows a kiss like a pro, but it is hard for him to coordinate the ‘mmmwah’ sound with leaning in. So often, he leans in a bit, says ‘mmmwah’ and then walks away. It is actually very endearing…just a little different.
Mimi Kisses
My mom gave tons of giant bear hugs, but her kisses were different too. She was very wary of kid-germs and often gave them kisses by kissing her own pointer finger and applying said kiss to their foreheads…also, very endearing and a little different. Maybe it runs in the family. Wink.
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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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