Inclusion

For the last month or so, we have been setting Andrew in his swing during the time that we eat dinner. He usually just watches his Tiger (which we tie infront of him) or looks at other features on the swing (rain-forest animals). He has been getting more and more perceptive over the last week and senses where we are at all times. So, last night, he started crying loudly when we set him in the swing, and he did not relent (very unusual for him). We thought maybe he was cranky. He did the same thing tonight. After five minutes, we had to stop eating because he was so loud. The swing is only a couple feet from the table but was pointing parallel to the table (not directly facing it), but Andrew could always see us. I decided to change the angle so he was pointed directly at us, and it was amazing to see the difference. He immediately stopped crying. He looked directly at us and started smiling. He never stopped looking at us for the next 20 minutes. I've always heard that people are hard-wired to connect from birth, but this was the most startling example that we've had with Andrew of how much small aspects of community and belonging mean to him. It seems that we are born with a deep desire to be included, to be valued, and to be wanted.