Happy Birthday!

The boys' birthday party is always at our house. In years past, we have invited some folks we know, with neuro-typical (NT) kids, to join us. Over the years, they have kind of dropped off.

We have always encouraged David, who is much more social than Mikey, to invite friends from school. [In fact, when he was in 2nd or 3rd grade, he did invite folks; but when Mom tried to probe into what he told them, he responded, "Well, I told them it was Saturday, at Grandma's house."] Over the last few years, we have sent invitations to a few kids from the public school he had been attending; none ever came.

This year was different. Two of the home school families joined us for the party. Now, an NT party for 12-year-olds would involve dropping off kids at a house or some place like Chucky Cheese, an arcade, a miniature golf place. But when you have kids on the spectrum - let's just say, it's different AND the whole family comes. The count this year was about 11 kids and 15 adults. Several of the kids were on the spectrum.

Observation: Good parents make all the difference in the world. Both my husband and I were apprehensive when we realized how many folks would be around that day. To our very pleasant surprise, the children were polite and kind. Our friend with the most severely impacted child, a charmer named, "Beau," gives hugs and kisses, and has older sisters who are generous and engaging, not only with their brother, but with all the kids. At one point, I saw one of the girls in the bounce house with Beau and Mikey, jumping to a nursery rhyme. I have seen groups of NT kids who could not hold a candle to the positive and polite behavior of all the kids that day. And all the adults helped with all the kids.