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Aw...that's so sweet!

I really feel that she has a gift with animals. since she could pet them she has always been very gentle. When she was going to sleep one night, the cat jumped up on the bed and she was quiet and just held out her hand for the cat to smell.

"gentle" was one of her first words because I was so prepared for the baby to be a real jerk to the animals and I wanted to teach her... i never really had to.

We got a zoo membership and she has been once. and knows the names of every. single. animal there. From warthog to koala bear... and we took her to a petting zoo and she walked around with her arms around this goats neck for like, 30 minutes and the goat didn't even mind. I was amazed.

It's kind of neat seeing her "gift" come out. Sometimes i think she can talk to them (I know that's crazy)... she just seems to be so. connected. with all the animals she encounters.

That is a wonderful gift! I've always loved animals, but have allergies, and my DC and SO are even more allergic, so, sadly, we can't associate too closely with animals frequently or for extended time periods.

And I think encouraging her interest in and rapport with animals is likely to result in lifelong benefits for her...individuals who are outliers sometimes have a hard time finding human peers who resonate with them, but can often find a great deal of comfort and companionship in animal relationships.

that is a really amazing and awesome perspective, AEH. I agree, she sometimes doesnt seem to relate to her peers on any level but physical. she runs around and stuff with them.