We often wonder if what we say to our children makes an impression. Are they learning what we try to teach about compassion and concern for others? I was lucky enough to see first hand.
My eldest son has a long-time friend whose name is never far removed from the stories of his day. Tonight, she sent him several messages in a row saying she needed to speak with him about Roblox. We were heading upstairs to bed, so he said he’d speak with her tomorrow. Then he off-handedly said that she’d "had a rough day."
I asked if she was OK. “Why wouldn’t she be?” he asked, as he started up the stairs. Being autistic, when he has a plan in progress, he sticks to it rigidly; plans protect his sense of security. He also doesn’t easily pick up on social cues. So, I felt blessed to be there to explain that people only say things like, “I had a rough day,” when they need you.
I saw him fight with his need for routine and this new information and choose to sit back down to ask if she was OK. I listened while she cried, and he spoke to her calmly, working out what she needed and doing it. And I swelled with pride as he made her laugh so that her day ended happily.
My son, I could not be prouder.
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