Tuesday, October 17, 2017

How Cinderella made my autistic daughter feel like a princess



Birthdays are supposed to be fun and exciting for little kids, I know my six year old, Anna is already planning her next Birthday party and theme the night after her 6th party ended...that excited.

Birthdays were always so exciting and fun for me too, so much so that I would have my girls parties planned and ready to decorate months before the party.

That changed for me a month before my youngest daughter, Zoey turned 2 years old. The month before she turned 2 years old, Zoey was diagnosed with severe nonverbal autism, global developmental delay, dyspraxia of speech, and would soon be diagnosed with extreme ADHD

I tried to pull myself together enough to plan her birthday party, and do it just like I had done her 1st birthday party, how I had done 6 of her older sister's birthday parties. Her 2nd Birthday didn't go as I had planned and I would realize that none of her birthdays would go as planned again. I tried, each year I tried. 

Her 3rd birthday was too loud and she was on sensory overload, she didn't know how to blow out her candles, and we didn't sing Happy Birthday because she started to cover her ears from the noise, I took some flack for not singing the Happy Birthday song from some family, but I did what was best for my child and will continue to always do so.

Her 4th Birthday was a beautiful sunny day and I invited just small a group of family and friends and I did an ice cream social. Ice cream is her favorite and I thought why not build your own sundaes.

She saw everyone gathered around and immediately came over to me to escape the small crowd, I knew it was too much, she wasn't comfortable. She motioned for her and I to go inside, and I granted her that, after all it was her day. While our friends and family still gathered outside eating cake and ice cream sundaes, Zoey and I played with some of the very cool sensory toys that she had gotten as gifts from her friends and family.

Being social is very difficult for Zoey, if we have company she usually retreats to her sensory room for a "break" and I respect her wishes every time.

I had no idea what I was going to do this year for her 5th birthday. I know that 5 is a milestone birthday and with school and therapies she had come along way from years past. 

I noticed she was listening to the original Cinderella cartoon songs on her tablet and she would sing along with Cinderella to the song "Sweet Nightingale" and to see her sing it was beautiful, and soon she started watching the cartoon and she never went to shut the TV off, which she usually does, she actually was enjoying it and captivated by it. It made my heart happy to see her enjoy something, Zoey liked Cinderella.

I did some research and I found a company that does Princess Parties. Precious Parties By Kayla. I got in contact with Kayla and I asked if she would come visit Zoey on her Birthday, she was so thrilled to be a part of Zoey's special day and so we booked her. Cinderella was coming to Zoey's 5th Birthday.

Again, I invited just immediate family and close friends and as our guests arrived Zoey took their presents from them and opened them right away, I agree, who really wants to sit around and watch you open presents and be the center of attention. Everyone else thought it was great too.

Cinderella soon arrived not long after our guests and all the other children squealed with excitement while Cinderella sat down on our floor and gathered the children around her to show her what she had brought them. A treasure chest full of trinkets and fairy wings, and then she grabbed out a Cinderella book, looked right at Zoey and pointed to Cinderella on the cover and then at herself and Zoey said "Cerella." 

Zoey knew that Cinderella was here at our house. It was overwhelming for her and she took many breaks. Cinderella did face painting on all the other kids while Zoey sat on the couch having me give her deep compression (squeezes) on her legs. My husband came over to us and he said "Cinderella is here for you baby girl." Zoey kept taking my hands to do deep compression on her legs, as I looked up at my husband and said "we tried, we tried."

Zoey was definitely intrigued by this beautiful Cinderella at our house and she actually went up and approached her 3 times. I was moved and close to tears, because no matter what Cinderella was doing, face painting a child, answering a question, whatever it was she was doing she stopped all 3 times Zoey approached her, and she treated her like the special little princess that she is, and that meant everything to me.

We brought out the cake and we sang Happy Birthday to Zoey this year, and this is the first year that Zoey blew out her candles. Cinderella cut her cake and then took pictures, signed autographs and then said her goodbyes, and off she left on her way back to Prince Charming.

Thank you Cinderella for making THIS birthday special for my special girl, and it went exactly how I had planned.


1 comment:

  1. Melissa, I am so happy for you that it went as planned, but I am happier even for Zoey and that this time she could enjoy her party and be the very special Princess that she is. I have followed along for the last two years and as I read about Cinderella and Zoey, I sit here with tears of joy streaming down my face. I love this so much and I am so happy for her. God bless you all.

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