coping

[Guest guest]

Michele

I've always wondered if my best friend's daughter who is 1 month younger

than Caitlyn (but was talking and walking before my kid could even roll

over) would accept Caitlyn when they were older. And you know what,

Caitlyn won't accept her. Caitlyn screams every time she sees this

child now for the past 9 mos. even though they've been playing together

for 2 1/2 yrs. We've talked to behaviorists and we're trying to work

through it, but this other girl wants so bad to play with my kid but

Caitlyn will have no parts of it.

My suggestion is to not cut yourself off completely to your friends with

" typical " children. For one thing, I've used my friend as a guide,

because I take my cues from Caitlyn and she never gives me any cues, I

use my friend as a " typical role model " and it's helped. But I do limit

our get togethers to what I can take. Besides, if you surround yourself

with all special needs families, when you're ready to deal with your

other friends again, they may not be there for you. So take it on

slowly, what you can handle.

I remember Caitlyn's first year, I couldn't even go to the mall without

crying. Watching mothers feed their babies from their breast or bottle

with no tubes (while my kid was at home with a babysitter too ill to go

out). Anyway, I always ramble, sorry.

Jeanne