Some of Kate's Best Friends are Senior Citizens

Today we visited Alex's grandmother in her nursing home.  We usually take the kids with us because the men and women there adore them.  I mean, really adore them.  They NEVER ask me passive aggressive questions about Kate's development. ( 'How old is she?" (read about how this can hurt here), "Is she potty-trained?" or "I can't understand a word she is saying?")  They only ever smile ear to ear and take Kate's violent hug attacks like pros.  They say things like, "Your girls are beautiful" and "I could watch them play all day."  They never glare, or judge or look uncomfortable when Kate flaps or jumps or screams.  They don't care that she has autism.  They don't even notice.  They just see Kate.  Sweet baby Kate, as we call her.  

Kate greets every single person she sees with a smile and a hug if she is allowed.  The nursing home is no different.  She reaches for their hand and puts one foot on their wheelchair as if asking to get up and go for a ride.  I usually discourage this, but I can see the seniors are disappointed that I put a stop to their fun.  Kate jibber jabbers happily at them and I can usually pick out a word here and there.  Today, Kate had a long conversation with "Lillian" about a butterfly.  Butterfly, was the only word I could make out but that didn't stop Lillian from listening intently and talking to Kate without looking at me for help.  Grace sits back, more tentative than her sister, but she enjoys meeting these lovely people, too.  It is a nice escape from the world outside.

I hate tearing the girls away from such an accepting environment but we had errands to run.  On the way out we ran into someone that worked at the nursing home.  Kate began to babble at her and I am pretty sure Kate said, "I come with you?" to the girl wearing the balloons on her scrubs. Kate was fascinated by these balloons. The Balloon Girl looked confused and asked: 

"How old is she?" and I thought….here we go.  

"She's three." I said.  

Kate, as if on cue, pulled up her shirt to show The Balloon Girl her belly and exposed her diaper.  

"Is she potty-trained?"  

and we're back...

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