Today Naomi slept in very late. She got up around 10:00am, and at that time all the other kids were in Elli and Tobiah's bedroom playing. She got up and asked me if she could play with the dinosaurs. A couple minutes later, Ruth came back in our room. The following conversation ensued:
Ruth: You playing with my Daddy? (She has mom, daddy, and Sarah triceratops she's attached to)
Naomi: No. It's your turn to play with your Daddy. I'm so sorry I took it.
She can really blow me away. The typical fighting and freak outs when the other kids have what she wants make her seem like such a spoiled brat (to an outsider), but when you get this glimpse into the person she really is, past the autism, she is an amazing child.
Other little things:
That's just Zoey, Mom. (After Zoey making some noise in the hallway, and Naomi noticing me glance out there)
This is a Sharp Tooth. He lives in the Mysterious Beyond (yes, my kids LOVE Land Before Time). This is his baby.
Mommy, I get on my bed and get my other dinosaurs? (She always knows exactly where her toys are, wish the same was so for her shoes!)
Followed quickly by Mommy, may I toss these down?
A little later, Ruth kept saying she was three.
Naomi: I'm not two. I am three.
Ruth: I three.
Naomi: I'm not two. I am three.
This is usually where the serious upset will start and Naomi will start her freak out.
Naomi: We not fight Ruth. We just fight right now, we not fight.
Such an amazing child. I love days when we are able to break through and see this side of her.
More little things:
That is not Mater. That is Lightning McQueen.
This is Sharp Tooth. His teeth very sharp. Followed by attempting to count, and actually getting a good amount of numbers between 1-20 in order, although still a far cry from counting to 20.
That is Daddy's coap. I mean coat.
(Very calmly, while Ruth is being a total brat) No throwing toys, no throwing toys, no throwing toys, no throwing underwear, no throwing toys.
We even managed to get through an autistic melt down! Naomi has a triceratops sitting in a certain place as part of her game, and Ruth grabbed it. Naomi immediately freaked out and got upset, and it turned into them both screaming and playing tug of war, a sight I see way too often. At this point, my heart dropped a bit, and I thought this special time was over. I kept trying to get Ruth to come and talk to me, since me saying (rather loudly over their screaming) for her to find a different dino was not working. I finally got Naomi's attention and asked her to take a deep breath, and she cried a little thinking I was going to make her give her toy to Ruth. I told her I knew Ruth was upsetting her, and she was upsetting Mommy, too. Naomi calmed down, Ruth was shamed and finally came, and I asked Ruth to go and ask Naomi if there was a different dinosaur she could play with. By the time Ruth turned back around Naomi was already holding one out. The contented, sweet, getting along playing continued.
Watching their game, I can definitely still see the autism. Naomi is very bossy and telling Ruth exactly how to play. I think part of the difference today is that Ruth is (somewhat) listening. I still rejoice in this play, because Naomi is acting out many things she has seen in Land Before Time, and adding a little of her own creative play, which is hard for her.
Days like today are a blessing, and they make me want to prevent any interruption that might end it. Unfortunately today we have her second assessment for the preschool, and I will have to cut it short. Right now, though, my heart is full.
