Mission Accomplished
On Thursday, I shared Mikey’s journal entry about being excited for Frog Frolic. Mikey was genuinely excited for the event, AND…sharing it in the journal let his classmates know he’d be there.
He saw lots of friends that day! I didn’t get any photos with them, but Mikey got high fives, smiles and hugs from all of his pals.
Inclusion
I know it can be challenging to see all the typical kids with friendships and activities filling their social calendars. I know sometimes our special kids hurt. They feel left out or lonely. But, if your child has intellectual delays and they are happy with a high five, a smile or a hug from a pal, even if that classmate only hangs with them for a minute or two, let that be good enough for you too.
Remember that all the kids are growing up and learning how to interact with the world around them. Their kindness and inclusion should be appreciated.
Try not to impose your expectations on what should make your child feel happy and included. Just be happy as long as they are.
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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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