“Mommy, are you angry with Grandpa?”
“We’re talking, sweetheart.”
Lily was silent for a moment.
Then she said:
“Grandpa was teaching me how to tell people where they can touch me and where they can’t. Today was the first time I wasn’t scared when he held my hand.”
I began crying even harder.
“Lily, sweetheart, you never have to let anyone touch you, even if they love you very much.”
My daughter smiled.
“Grandpa told me that too.”
The next day, we took Lily to the pediatrician.
After further professional assessments, we learned that she did indeed have pronounced sensory sensitivity to touch.
The specialist explained that this could have several different causes and that it was important to understand Lily’s individual needs rather than force her to tolerate contact that made her uncomfortable.
We began following professional guidance.
We learned to ask Lily before hugging her.
