Wil may have only been about 4 years old, but he had mapped out every “Employee Only” door in every grocery store he’d ever been to. As I turned to pick an item off the shelf, he’d make his move. My stomach dropped as I noticed his absence, then my brain registered what happened. I … Continue reading Finding Wil Taylor
Something Good
Rain drops hit the pool deck. It was sometime around 1980. A group of about 10 of us kids sat on our towels joking that we needed a sun dance. Troy jumped up, raised his arms to the sky, kicked his legs and danced like no one was watching. We cheered Troy on from the … Continue reading Something Good
A Sucker for You
Communicating with Wil is an incredible experience. Though he has been in speech therapy since he was months old, he has always been one savvy communicator. A tilt of his head and a smile melts you into a puddle of mush on the spot. When music takes him over, his good vibes serendipitously course through … Continue reading A Sucker for You
Steps to Independence
I walked Wil into his first day of camp, then I walked back to my car. I shut the car door and cried for 5 minutes straight. I couldn’t stop seeing Wil’s face in my mind. His big, wide eyes looking up at me above his mask. I knew that look. He was trying to … Continue reading Steps to Independence
Of Mice and Squirrels – Defying Categories
“Look at me, Mom.” Wil held a sandwich close to his mouth and nibbled bit-by-bit. “Look at you. Such a cute, little mouse.” “Ugh, Mom, no. I’m a cute, little squirrel,” he said emphatically, then rolled his eyes upward. Wil is an expert at merging the aspects of childhood with the antics of teenage-hood. Wil’s … Continue reading Of Mice and Squirrels – Defying Categories
What They Can’t Tell You
Wil ran up to me, then reached into his pajama pants pocket. He pulled out an adhesive mustache and stuck it under his nose. “Look at me, Mom!” He leaned his face so close to mine that I saw double. “You are so close I can’t see you!” He stepped back, his mustache upside-down, the … Continue reading What They Can’t Tell You
Lightweight
Think being light-hearted doesn’t hold weight? Even in serious matters? Just ask the fly who won the vice-presidential debate. Just ask an elementary school teacher how a whisper quiets an entire classroom. Just ask a parent of a child with Down syndrome. When Wil is feeling heavy, he has a hard time getting out of … Continue reading Lightweight
An Evil Queen’s Observation on Acceptance
I am often placed in the position of being teacher. Not by trade. Not by degree. But by raising a child with special needs. My favorite way of learning is through storytelling. Allow me to introduce you to the cast: Grumpy: Lila Happy: Ashley Sneezy: Seeger Sleepy: Sarah Doc: Olivia Dopey: Lillian Bashful: Rebecca The … Continue reading An Evil Queen’s Observation on Acceptance
Win/Win
Wil had not slept in his own bed for months. He said he had a bad dream. A bad dream could mean lots of things. It could mean something scary in his room. A toy, a book, a game. A bad dream could mean a scary occurrence that he couldn't shake. I dug deeper. Tell … Continue reading Win/Win
A New Flight Path
On the day of Wil’s birth, the nurse said he was “floppy” which is a soft marker for Down syndrome. He melted into my chest. The soft, defined curve of his eyes warmed my heart like I’d known this love forever. At the same time, the shape of his eyes sent a hard marker of … Continue reading A New Flight Path