This afternoon we were invited to a birthday party. It was for one of Aaron’s classmates who has an older brother who is the same age as Ryan.  I thought it was going to be fun.  There would be a gang of kids all of similar ages.

It did not go well at all.

Ryan started complaining about the party as we arrived.  I dropped my husband and the kids off at the park because I had mistakenly left rice cooking at home. I went home to shut off the stove and returned to the party. My husband reported that Ryan was falling apart at the party the whole time I was gone. He was having issues with being super rigid, he hated the park, he hated the soda he picked, and he hated everything, I did not want to stand there at the party with a Ryan who  was not fitting in with the kids who were pretending to be secret agents because elaborate pretend play can be so hard. I thought to myself we didn’t have to be there like we do school or other commitments.

Ryan and I escaped the party. I left the car with my husband, I grabbed Ryan, and started walking. It was almost a two mile walk. We walked, he complained,  he ranted, and had a crying fit but he kept walking.  As the blocks passed by he cried less, ranted less, and stopped crying. I kept telling him that I was not mad and that we didn’t have to stay at the party if it were uncomfortable and his behavior at the party told me he did not want to be there. The walk helped.  Movement always helps this kid.

We arrived home he was much happier. I let him have some ice cream since he missed the cake at the party. I am so glad my husband was there and we could just leave. Leaving was the best choice. For once I didn’t feel bad about having to leave and just was comfortable with the fact we missed this one. We may go to a party that is fun another time but today it just wasn’t fun.

Although I really hope this is not an indication of how the week will go.