“It’s November! It’s almost Thanksgiving!!!!”

“AND PUMPKIN PIE?!?!?”

“Is it time for the special feast!?!?”

“This is my pilgrim hat!”

Music to my ears. Why? Because Thanksgiving is by far my favorite holiday? True…..but not why. These comments and questions were music to my ears because they came from one of my special friends. One of my special friends with Autism. This will be the third Thanksgiving since I met my special friend in 2008. Each year we have done a special Thanksgiving-themed week where all our group and individual therapy activities were based on Thanksgiving (Thanksgiving books, Thanksgiving art, Thanksgiving songs and more). Thanksgiving can be a tough concept filled with abstract ideas and feelings, complex history, strange and unfamiliar food, rooms filled with loud people…..it can be confusing and hectic. But it can also be wonderful. Now that we are on our third Thanksgiving, my friend GETS it….and he’s EXCITED. Last week in therapy we sang a song called, “Say Thank You” which gave us lots of practice to think about the different things we are thankful for and how each friend and person has different things in their lives and different things they are thankful for. We also sang this song the past two years during our Thanksgiving week. This year, my friend GOT IT.

Wednesday morning, bright and early, we were at Chapel time at my friend’s school. The pastor began to talk about Thanksgiving and began to ask children to raise their hands and tell him what they are thankful for. One little girl had her turn. I then whispered in my friend’s ear, “thankful for……” and modeled raising my hand. My friend imitated me and the pastor called on him, “Yes, you. What are you thankful for?” My friend sat up straight and proud and pointed to himself with his little finger and loudly and clearly said, “I’M THANKFUL FOR MY FAMILY.”

He GOT IT. This little moment not only brightened my week but has also caused me to think about all the things that I’m thankful for…..big and small. Now, my little friend is doing the same.

We hope that everyone has a safe and Happy Thanksgiving with their friends and family!

~KidSpeak, LLC
Laura & Amanda
www.kidspeakdallas.com