Was at a park over the weekend with our 4yo and 2yo and my partner. Our 4yo wanted to play on the big slide and our 2yo wanted to play in the tunnel, so we split supervision. My 2yo made a friend with a little girl who seemed to be on the autism spectrum. (Edit: Sorry that sounds a little bit insensitive. What I mean is that, taken as a whole, her behavior, speech, and vocabulary are similar to many students I’ve known who are on the spectrum. I didn’t mean to imply people with autism ‘look’ or ‘act’ a certain way). She was probably 5 or 6 and very sweet to both my kids. My partner and I watched the three of them play a lot. Normally I don’t allow my kids to climb up the slides (years of being a recess monitor at an elementary school will do that to ya), but my 4yo was being so encouraging and kind teaching this girl how to safely walk up the slide that I let them do it. The look of pride on their new friend’s face when she got to the top was priceless. Beaming ear to ear. Lots of clapping and cheers from my kids. Her dad walked up to her and she said, “Dad! I made it to the top!”

He yelled at her for climbing up the slide. She completely deflated. Dad sounded not just upset but angry with his daughter. My 4yo ran away and got me, my 2yo found my partner too. Their new friend was crying and being reprimanded by both her parents. I was about to go over to them with my kids to explain and apologize. My partner and I told our kids it wasn’t her fault and that we didn’t know their rules, so we should apologize. On our way over the parents shot us a nasty look and left, their bawling daughter in tow.

Both my kids have a hard time making friends. They’re just different, they wear their hearts on their sleeves, they’re awkward, they have super vivid imaginations that can be overwhelming for their peers. They’re also followers. So them making a friend independently is a big deal. They were really upset the whole way home, our 4yo especially. They thought it was all their fault they got their friends in trouble. Our 2yo has been asking to go back to the park to find her new friend. I really do hope we see them again so I can explain what happened. I hate that my kids don’t have closure and didn’t get the chance to say bye. I feel terrible too. She looked so happy and proud climbing the slide. I wish I would have said something straight away.