Splash Pad

My 5-year-old son was invited to a birthday party at a Winnipeg pool with an indoor splash pad by one of his classmates from Kindergarten/Daycare. They have known each other for a few years now. My son was invited to the same child's birthday the year before as well. They do not go on playdates but they seem to be friendly with each other. Also at the party were 2 Kindergarten classmates and 5 children that used to attend my sons daycare. All of the children knew my son. I was familiar with some of the parents but did not know any names. My son loves to swim but is a little nervous in the water without mom and dad. He is very scared to jump in by himself. He was so excited to go to the birthday party to play in the water and have pizza. My son uses Gestalt language so it is difficult for people who are not mom and dad to understand what he is trying to say most of the time.

My son and I drove to the pool together and my son kept saying he wanted to go to the pool party. We walked in the pool entrance and waited to talk to the staff to see where to go. While waiting some of the other party guests arrived. One child recognized my son and called him by name. My son was very excited to see some daycare "friends" that he had not seen in a few months since they no longer attended daycare together. My son did not say hello but started talking about his favourite Godzilla characters. He is currently very excited about Godzilla and wanted to talk about what he liked with people he knew. Unfortunately the child laughed and said "He doesn't know how to talk right". That broke my heart to hear. Luckily by son does not recognize social cues and did not see this as a negative comment. The child's mom did not say anything and the other kids laughed. I was hurt because the kids and other parents do not understand my son and I feel as though I have to explain and say my son has autism just so people know why he talks differently. During the party my son enjoyed pizza and playing in the pool. I was the only parent other than the parents throwing the party in the water because it makes my son feel more confident in the water. He played alittle bit with some of the other kids but mostly played by himself. Some kids were getting upset with my son when presents were being opened because he would jump in front and want to take the presents out of their hands and look at them. All that matters to me is that my son had fun and even now asks if he can go back to his friends pool party again.

I learned that unfortunately parents who do not have neurodiverse/autistic children or experience being around neurodiverse/autistic children do not know how to interact with or connect with both the neurodiverse child/parent of neurodiverse child . I think it is important that all parents become more open to having their children have play dates with children who are considered "different" and invite children like my son to birthday parties in the future. As a parent it warms my heart when my son is invited and is able to participate in activities like birthday parties that other children/parents may take for granted. Since my son thinks, talks, and acts differently than the "average/non-neurodiverse " 5-year-old, I worry that he will not get to experience the same social activities (parties, play dates, sports teams, etc.) that other children do and not be able to develop close friendships with others.