Whoever said being normal was a good thing??

  We went to a friend's 3rd birthday yesterday, which was a princess-themed extravaganza by this company. Ainsley, not quite 2-and-a-half, was one of the youngest kids there and while she knew most of them from school, we had some major issues even getting through the front door. Let me backtrack . . . . I think I posted before about how I always have thought Ainsley has a touch of sensory integration disorder. While she doesn't display most of the symptoms, she has always had a hard time adjusting to new situations, some which include loud noise. She is incredibly sensitive to textures, both in fabric and food. She loves loud music and will beg for it to be louder, but cannot stand the vacuum cleaner, the lawnmower, the blender, etc. She will go in her playroom when I take out the vacuum and shut the door, singing to herself. Yesterday, when the door flew open and three kids immediately rushed to her and begged her to join them, she just kind of melted down. No crying, just like she shuts down mentally and wants to be held.

We spent at least 45 minutes just sitting quietly with her in the corner, watching and observing the children play. I got many strange looks from parents, but I am over it at this point. I finally had to tell the party directors to leave us alone because they would come over every 5-10 minutes and say really loudly, "Sweetie, do you want to come and put on a princess dress and play with the other kids??" I wanted to scream, My daughter is not deaf and she already told you "no thank you" a few minutes ago. Maybe you should get your ears checked, lady!

What finally brought Ainsley out of her shell was the treasure hunt outside. She put on a princess dress, but told me, "I don't want it!" a few minutes later. I don't blame her, tulle is scratchy and uncomfortable. Besides, Ainsley is not really the dress-wearing kind of girl. She ran around with the kids outside, ate a cupcake and sang Happy Birthday, and then her and the birthday girl continued to play together happily until it was time for us to leave.

It is funny how times like this makes me appreciate Ainsley's quirky personality. She is so unique, as each child is. But I love that she already knows so much of what she likes and what she refuses to accept. Everywhere we go, people comment on her manners, her ability to hold lengthy conversations about anything and everything, the precocious air about her. Swaddling her until she was almost six months old got nasty comments from a few members of our family, but we knew how she became overstimulated, even from her own hands. Wrapping her up in a dimly lit room would evoke the sweetest smiles from my girl. It took time, but we learned quickly what always calmed her down. Even now, when Mike drops her off at school, if there is too much going on in the room, he knows he has to sit at a table with her somewhere aside from the children and play with Legos or look at animal books while she adapts. Never tears, just . . a need for peace. You would never guess she needed that when you see her in gymnastics, jumping 6 feet through the air into a pit of foam blocks, screaming in pleasure the entire way.

She is mine. Even though she has never been easy and has her Dad's ugly toes, I would never want it any other way.

 

 

Comments

[Jen]

What a beautiful girl! Sounds like it has been a joy for you to get to know her. :)

[Heather]

She's gorgeous. I think its a good thing that she knows what she needs. I think just knowing that will make her a much more secure person.

[Natalee]

Miss "Independence" indeed. :)

[Amie]

Longtime reader here saying 'I hear you' on the sensory thing. My son - at his 2-year-old birthday party - did not want to go into the puppet show b/c it was dark in the room. So it was awesome that we paid so much money for every other kid to watch a puppet show while my son played in the mall play area the whole time!

(She is beautiful by the way!)