Wondering how she feels

[Guest guest]

I was watching my daughter the other day at the pool. There were alot

of kids playing in the water around her and some even trying to play

with her. For the most part she didn't seem to be paying them much

attention. But I did see her looking at some of them and following

close behind. This is actually pretty new. She really hasn't seemed

very interested in other children, only teenagers and adults. So as

I'm watching her I'm wondering if she feels lonely. I worry about how

she feels so often and although I know no one here is a mind reader, I

was wondering is others on the spectrum could tell me how they felt

early in their childhood. I took some of the things she was doing to

be attempts to get others attention and was wondering if I should have

gone up to help her make friends. I didn't, I just watched. I wondered

if she felt dissapointed at not having made some sort of connection

with the other kids. I'm not sure as to what to do when it comes to

her socializing. I also don't want to embarass her by saying things

about her to the other kids, like she has autism, etc. Was thinking

Kassie, or Sondra might be able to give me some advice on what I

should or shouldn't be doing. I was to treat her as normally as

possible, but help if I can. Oh, by the way, she's five.

Cristy