Rejoicing in the little moments

When it comes to my children's social abilities I want my children to be friendly, outgoing, to make friends easily and to be liked by all. However, when you realize that your child struggles a great deal in social situations it's really difficult to accept that. I wish that others could see the Selah we know and love. She is so intelligent, funny, and has such a sweet and caring nature about her. But when Selah has the opportunity to engage in conversation with someone that is not the girl we see. She is no longer talkative and funny, she is shy, timid, and sometimes scared. Something happened this last weekend where I realized we were embarking on a journey that would take much time and patience. Not only would Selah be learning, but me as well. We were in her first ballet class and the teacher had just arrived. The teacher had asked all of the kids to sit on the blue mat to sing a welcome song, and my girl became hysterical. What was it like for her in that moment? Did she feel overwhelmed by the attention? I attempted to calm her down and encourage her to participate, while other parents gawked and the teacher glared at us. I walked out of there with her in my arms and tears in my eyes. From this helpless feeling I have learned that my daughter needs me to encourage her, to praise her when she does really well in social situations. Rejoice in the little moments! To be embarrassed or frustrated only hinders her growth as well as mine. I'm not a perfect mom, and I don't have perfect children, but I am proud of them and love them for who they are. I am ready to walk with my daughter hand in hand on this journey of self-discovery and growth.