Just 2 years ago during graduation party time I needed an eagle eye on Wil. At one party he fled the party and would not leave the front porch. At another he ran to a side street and sat in the middle of it. Yesterday, at each grad party he hung with his buddies. And … Continue reading Steps in Time
Patience v Desire to Understand
I’m not a patient person. But I’ve been called patient a lot since raising Wil. And I started to believe I grew in my patience. It’s possible I did. Last weekend Wil got stuck, and we had a very important wedding to get to. As the clock ticked I grew very frustrated. I wasn’t feeling … Continue reading Patience v Desire to Understand
Stages of Independence
I sat in my seat as Wil walked up on stage to receive his school honors. He needed no support or assistance. He, like his peers, walked from his seat to the stage and back to his seat. As he returned to his seat, I waved so he could find me, but he didn’t need … Continue reading Stages of Independence
Inclusion: Reason to Care
I’m no born-natural. I’m not made to raise a child with Down syndrome. But here I am. And working as a paraprofessional, no less. I have a lot to offer, we all do. But I have a lot to learn; that’s exactly why am I where I am. Not because I was born with a … Continue reading Inclusion: Reason to Care
Got Curiosity?
My Grandma used to wrap presents in newspaper. In the opening, my fingers would be covered in smeary black smudge, but as a kid who cared? My Grandma didn’t much care either, which is why she didn’t spend time buying pretty wrapping. What was important to her was the giving. Now I look back and … Continue reading Got Curiosity?
I Wonder, Wonder, Wonder
Wil talks all the time. He talks to me, he talks to friends, he talks to himself. I wonder at the time, listening to him today, how one hesitant word was cause to drop everything and celebrate. His verbalization today was once a distant, fuzzy dream. Like reaching for a cloud that my hands couldn't … Continue reading I Wonder, Wonder, Wonder
Rise & Shine
Last night Wil’s music therapist recapped his session with me. She said, “I know how hard positioning his fingers and his wrist is for him . I can see his restraint from giving up. He has a lot of focus to keep going. That shows me he has been well supported.” That last sentence 😭 … Continue reading Rise & Shine
Extra Chromosome = Extra Life
Yesterday Wil and I were driving to get his hair cut. Wil always takes my phone, searches what he wants to play on Amazon music. If he diverges from Luke Bryan he’ll say to himself, “how to spell Dierks Bentley” and type it out using phonics. Sometimes this works, and sometimes it leads to frustration … Continue reading Extra Chromosome = Extra Life
An Ornamental Moment
Wil loves putting ornaments on the Christmas tree. Using his fine motor skills has always been a challenge for him; especially pinching. As you can imagine, placing ornaments with loops on top gets tiresome quickly for Wil — but Wil always finds a way. When his pinching fingers are worn out, he puts the ornament … Continue reading An Ornamental Moment
Beyond Our Own Bubble
Nothing about disability should make one uncomfortable. The discomfort within is simply a block in the desire to understand. A desire to understand is hard work. It requires a shift in perspective. A vulnerable openness. But even when a small fissure in that block opens within us, the sliver of light is absolute glory. I … Continue reading Beyond Our Own Bubble