MAC and I have been talking all week how when we fly out to St. Louis it is family time, that she will be meeting with people that haven't seen her in a long while or have never met her and that she will need to "be more adult" and talk with people etc... She usually gives me one of her long suffering looks and says, "I know, I can't wait to meet people".
She got out of school 2 hours early today and I was supposed to pick her up from my sisters house so she could finish her packing and then she was going to go with my sister to pick up my niece from school. I got a phone call at 2 saying that R could just drop MAC off after they picked up my niece, which I said ok but asked several questions: where is your good pencil? where is your phone charger? (I forgot to ask if she had her phone with her so we now have the charger and no phone.) are you planning on taking your DSi with you? where is your wallet? She got tired of my asking questions and actually hung up on me! When she got home she needed to change because although I like her uniform she hates it. She had thought that that was all she needed to do and wanted to go help my sister pack. I started on the questions again: where is your wallet? why are you wearing that? what real book are you planning on taking? We didn't leave our house for another half hour.
We got to the airport at 5:15 and made it through the screening process fairly quickly (25 minutes). Our plane didn't leave until 6:30 so as soon as our shoes were back on and our bags were collected MAC wanted food. She and I had Arby's, R wasn't hungry and Z (the niece) got a taco from California Tortilla.
The flight was good, MAC got a window seat and had fun looking out at the twinkling lights below, Z sat on the aisle and had all the flight attendants "ohing and ahing" over her. Upon touchdown I once again spoke with her about the expected behavior when we meet people. When we arrived Mom and Dad were there to meet us and they took us back to the hotel. They got half hugs from MAC. My Aunt and Cousin J were at the hotel and came down the hall for a visit, at which time MAC decided that she didn't really want to meet anybody. I finally finagled her into coming to say hello before she shuffled off to bed. The hope is that tomorrow at breakfast will be better.
Yes, yes I know you're going to say that it was 8:30pm St. Louis time and she has been up since 6am EST this morning, or that the medication which I didn't force her to take until 9:15pm CST hadn't kicked in yet, but really: saying hello nicely doesn't take a lot of effort does it? I guess when you're tired (she fell asleep in about 5 minutes once her head hit the pillow) and not a people person it does take effort.
I am totally understanding how you feel. My daughter is the same way when it comes to socializing with people she doesn't know very well or meeting new people. I truly believe it is a form of social anxiety, although I have heard whispers behind me about "being rude". I don't believe it is rude if the child is truly uncomfortable and/or afraid of social situations. When I see MAC, I just say a simple "hi" and go on my way because I know not to expect more than that, and that is fine by me. I wish people were more aware of social anxiety and not judge my child just because their child is very outgoing and outspoken. We are not made out of cookie cutters, inside or out. I feel your pain, my dear. I just wish there was something we could do to help them in those situations. Love to you all.
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