Today at group therapy, the kiddos decided that they wanted to go for a walk outside since it wasn’t as cold as it normally is. One of the kids, John*, instantly gravitated toward me. I haven’t been working here for long, and the kids don’t know me as well as the other staff, so this was surprising to me. Anyways, John asked me as we were standing in line, “Can I walk beside you?” I told him of course! It was just so sweet the way he asked me to make sure I was okay with his company and presence. I mean, of course I would be, but these kids have been taught to ask nicely for things, ask for what they want/need, etc., so it was just so nice to witness him following through with what he’s been taught over the years.
As we were walking down to the track, John pulled something out of his pocket. It was a folded up piece of paper with “Shopkins” characters on it. I learned that these are basically little brightly colored cartoon characters, each with a different theme. Some are fruits and veggies, some are household items, some are desserts, etc. Anyways, John was telling me ALL about the Shopkins. He even knew how much he paid for the plush dolls and what the tax was on the total. $2.88 is how much they are before tax. Anyways, John’s passion for Shopkins was evident. He even told me I could hold his pamphlet and pick my favorite ones! After we were done at the track, John said, “maybe when we get back, you could sit beside me and we can talk more about the Shopkins?” I told him sure we could. It’s just so great to see John talking about something he likes, all the while using appropriate conversation skills. He was able to ask me questions, too, and this is a great step for a kiddo with ASD. John was genuinely interested in what I had to say. John has the most innocent and caring soul, and I just adore his entire demeanor.
I’m just so proud of my sweet kids. Even though I haven’t been with them for long, I can tell that they are wonderful advocates for themselves and I know all of them will live fulfilling and successful lives.
*names are changed to protect client’s privacy
A Happy Melancholia 