For a parent of a child with special needs, an invitation to something as innocent as a birthday party can be a stark reminder of all the things that may be too difficult for their child to experience.
Over the years, mom Tricia Klein of Brantford, Ontario has had to decline every single invitation for organized sports, birthday parties, sleepovers, and play dates for her son Timothy, who has non-verbal autism.
“I can say whole-heartedly that my son has not attended a single one,” Klein wrote on her blog. “We have received countless invitations in the few years Timothy has attended school; of kids who mercilessly invite the entire class – and for that I’m grateful (don’t get me wrong). Really cool sounding parties too. I wonder if the parents know what would happen if I brought Timothy? The interruptions…the meltdowns…how I would hate to take the spotlight from the birthday child. So we politely decline. Every. Single. One…Until this one arrived.”
Despite craving social interactions and wanting to make friends, certain situations make him anxious and can overstimulate him. “It’s tough because he really does crave social interaction and being included,” Klein explained. “He also has many food aversions and difficulty with sensory input. I would hate for Timothy to have these difficulties and take the spotlight from the birthday child.”
Yet, when one birthday invitation came in the mail from a classmate and mother who wanted to make it work, she finally saw hope in letting him attend a party.
“Carter sat beside Timothy at school and he always talks about him,” the note read that came attached with Timothy’s invitation. “I really hope he can come. We are renting a bounce castle that we can attach a small bounce slide at the bottom. We will also have water balloons and water guns. Maybe Timothy can come earlier in the day if it would too much with the whole class. Let me know so we can make it work.”
Can you believe the impact one mother’s considerate note had for this mother and child with autism? Let us know what you think in the comments below, and please SHARE this with a mother on Facebook.
[Featured image credit: Tricia Klein/thebookoftimothy.blogspot.ca]
Mom Thought Her Son Would Never Go To A Birthday Party Until An Understanding Mom Offers To ‘Make It Work’ is an article from: LifeDaily