Extra, extra!

Elizabeth’s basketball games are loud and overwhelming to Wil, so sometimes I get a babysitter for him, and sometimes I bring him to support his sister and for the exposure. He never forgets to bring his ear protectors.

Wil handles the games well; he gets a hot dog and pop out of the deal and enjoys seeing friends.

Even so, each break in the game Wil asks if it’s time to go. When it is, he is up the bleachers and off to the car in a hot second. Last night, he headed up the bleacher steps as I collected our stuff hurriedly to catch up to him. I knew I could catch him, but fortunately a friend met him at the top of the bleachers and talked to him. The gift of extra time and seeing Wil connect with a friend was a breath of fresh air. His friend’s mom walked by me as I was about to head up the bleachers to meet Wil. I told her how grateful I was for the time her son afforded me. So she called up to her son to keep talking to Wil til I met up with them. Then she said to me, every extra minute we get counts.

Her son also has a disability. So she knows all the extras involved in all we do. And to know those without having to explain them to someone else is also a breath of fresh air.

I met up with Wil and his friend, we said our goodbyes, zipped up our coats, and walked out together, Wil dancing in the parking lot, “Mom dance with me!” on the way to the car. I breathed in the cold air, grabbed Wil’s hand and danced, thankful for all the extras.