It’s a warm sunny spring day…perfect day for the park.  I pack up the car and we head off to the great outdoors.  Addie and her brother love being outside.  Addie is truly in her element and it is almost therapeutic for her.  She loves bugs, dirt, sticks, the puddles…the ducks…the swings.  She comes alive when we walk in the park.

When we arrive I carefully drive around the park to find the least populated playground.  She easily tolerates a few kids but certainly not a crowd.  So I find one with only 3-4 kids and mommies hanging out.  Looks safe enough.  I’m praying we don’t make a scene and that maybe we can make a friend?!  So we make our way over.  Along the way Addie is pointing out every butterfly and telling me all about the butterflies and caterpillars.  How they turn into a chrysalis, etc…  As we get closer I start to give her some “prompts” to say to the other kids.  ”Can you say Hey, Addie?” “ok” she says. …continue reading