Developing Confidence...

This morning we went over to Sharon's place for a playdate with Em and a few playgroup friends. Now ever since Beth was a baby has always been a shy, nervous and anxious child... but over the last month, she has been even more shy and clingy... it takes her a *loooong* time to warm up and get used to having strangers and people around. Even in the latter part of the year at playgroup, Beth wouldn't play with the other children... in fact she wouldn't go anywhere unless I was within arm's reach. Anyway, with that background knowledge in mind, I was expecting Beth to be quite nervous and to be hanging off my arm for most of this playdate as there were going to be 5 other children there. But she totally surprised me and interacted with the others really well... she wasn't scared of them... she wanted to play with them (one time she got a bit left out as she is the youngest of the group, but she got included again and it was all good). She didn't need to have me in her sight at all times... and she knew where to run and find me if she needed help (which she is very good at doing at the moment... I hear the word "Heeelp!" about 50 times a day!). It was just nice to be able to stand around and have some adult conversation with the other mums without Beth whinging and sitting at my hip. She even gave Em a hug when we first arrived... and when we went to leave she gave hugs to Em and David (a little boy who is a few months older than Beth)... I was so happy and relieved with how she has started to develop a little confidence around other children and is happy to play with them. Will have to line up lots more playdates to help with the social skills.

Okay... another photo from the park shoot yesterday -


Although she looks like she's hailing a bus, she's actually yelling out "BIRD!" and pointing to it. She's a little obsessed with birds...