children are the best people in the world.
This past weekend Little Bear (age six) and I went to my uncle’s powwow and she made a new friend. This friend is also six and they played together all day.
Her friend, Eliza, noticed that Little Bear would periodically hold her head in her hands, eyes wide, mouth open, and slightly shaking; I know this to be her stemming. Little Bear is Autistic and when she becomes overwhelmed she stems uncontrollably.
Eliza asked why does she do that. I told her, when Little Bear feels overwhelmed she relaxes herself by doing that. Eliza asked me what overwhelmed means. I tried to explain to her using a few situation stories. She smiled at those stories and said “I feel overwhelmed sometimes too!” And that was the end of it; they went back to playing together.
Children are the most wonderful, accepting and understanding people.