We got to the bottom of what was eating Riley yesterday. There’s this boy in her class, and he “goes too easy on her.”
You see, he’s sweet. And kind. Apparently too kind. He goes back and forth with the other girls, teasing them and they tease him back, but he “goes easy” on Riley. She fears he treats her like a baby. I’m guessing they deliberately sat him next to her because he is helpful. She is one of the youngest in her class. She does not turn ten until June, so she already fears being a baby. Plus it’s fourth grade and she’s the only one who still cries, and this makes her self-conscious.
“Riley, would you prefer he be mean to you?”
“No.”
“Well what would you like?” I asked.
“I’d like him to be somewhere in the middle.”
No one likes to be condescended to. I understand that. I also get how many other kids on the spectrum are not experiencing peers “going easy on them.” Wouldn’t it be nice if there were a middle place, for all of them.
But may I say…what self-awareness, Miss Riley?!!!
Wow.
Just another sack load of wanting to be just the same as everyone else. The desire not to be different – Riley is one beautiful smart cookie.
Wouldn’t it be nice if there were a middle place for all of us? Sigh
Maybe it would help her to know that he is coming from a place of love and friendship instead of condescension…
Love.
I know that feeling. Not that that helps the situation, but I do, and it never gets to be any more fun.
Ditto Jess.
Ditto Jess, too. Double ditto.
Here, here.
I see where she’s coming from but I also think she’s lucky He’s not going easy on her he’s being kind and she’s not a baby just because she cries at nine I’m nineteen and I still cry when I meltdown which is more often then I’d like.