just when you think you've got them figured out...

Some kids are outgoing from the start. They wave hi to strangers,play with kids they meet in the park, and generally talk to pretty much anyone who talks to them. That's never been June. It takes her a very long time to get comfortable around new people and, even when she knows someone well, she hasn't gone out of her way to be friendly. If a friend from preschool yelled hi, June would usually give a hesitant little wave, her chin tucked into her neck--and that was a good day. On other days, she would just flat-out ignore them.

So imagine my shock at the transformation over the past month. Like the other day, when she was swimming in our neighbor's pool. She spotted our other neighbor over the fence and yelled hello. My jaw dropped. First of all, June never initiates a hello with anyone. And this is a neighbor we rarely see. Then while walking into day camp (which, by the way, she loves. Best overpriced activity I ever signed her up for), she spotted an older girl that she's met there and yelled hi. This might seem like ordinary behavior for alot of kids, but for June, it's really extraordinary. At Kean's check-up yesterday, she talked to the doctor for the first time ever without having me play a game of telephone to do it. She even gave my credit card to the gas station attendant and said thank you loud enough for him to hear! Granted, all of these interactions are very small, but added up, they really are a shift in her behavior. I'm so proud of her and that she's found the confidence that I always knew was inside her.