The past fall, I struggled with the thought of never truly being an empty nester. My thoughts were a twisted, tangled jumble of yarn – strands of prickly burlap wound tight around strands of brilliant, transparent glitter. The brilliant strands of glitter represent Wil’s near constant song. Nearly every event calls for a song -- … Continue reading Tree Wil and Glitter Christie
The Giggle Creator
Wil was just giggling to a tv show. Now he squished himself next to me in the Lazy-boy, as I was reading quietly, and started giggling. When I made him breakfast earlier, he danced around the kitchen, giggling. Wil’s a giggle creator. 💙😃
A Dose of Happy
After coaching this AM, I pulled into our attached garage. Wil, hearing the garage door lift, opened the side door from our house into the garage. He stood there, with his short hair a fuzzy mess, navy blue donut pj bottoms, and one of his many Buddy Walk t-shirts. I responsively smiled at him through … Continue reading A Dose of Happy
In Sync
As Wil has gotten older, it’s clear he needs closer friends with Down syndrome. He has wonderful friends at school that love and support him fully. As the gap in abilities with his typical peers grows and social lives expand, Wil also needs to cultivate friendships with those whose abilities match his. Manny’s family lives … Continue reading In Sync
No Words to Describe the Words that Do
Wil was busy packing his backpack. Then he walked up to me and told me what he was doing and walked out the door. I didn’t understand fully what he said. So I watched him walk down the lane of our back field. If he turns right, that means he’s going to the river. If … Continue reading No Words to Describe the Words that Do
Twist, turn, kick. Sputter. Smile.
His swim instructor was showing him how to roll over from his stomach to his back in the water. He’d start, face down, floating, then twist himself around. As he made the twist, he’d flail slightly, body twisting hard, with a little kicking to get himself all the way around. He’d pop his head to … Continue reading Twist, turn, kick. Sputter. Smile.
Slippery Rocks Ahead!
“Slippery rocks ahead!” It was a dark, pre-dawn August morning in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Headlamp lights bounced off the rocky trail. It had rained the night before, so the trail was slick. The jutting rocks and roots mixed with the elevation proved challenging without throwing in the darkness and slickness. Even though I had read … Continue reading Slippery Rocks Ahead!
Happy is as Happy Does
I wasn’t feeling very well yesterday. Wil had just gotten over the flu, and I believe a lesser degree of his illness hit my system yesterday. Other than going to work in the morning, and taking Katherine and Elizabeth on a few errands, I laid low and got as much sleep as I could. I … Continue reading Happy is as Happy Does
Life with Down Syndrome: Never a Dull Moment
Last night, Katherine had Crossfit at 5:30pm, and during her hour there, Elizabeth, Wil and I grocery shopped. I wasn't feeling that well (some winter bug), so wanted to make it a quick visit. We picked up the necessary items for dinner, then got into the grocery line. The line was quite long. As we … Continue reading Life with Down Syndrome: Never a Dull Moment
Shades of a Smile
There is something about people with Down syndrome that make strangers smile. There are the warm, friendly smiles. These are those who have an acquaintance with Ds or have a positive image of people with Ds. Then there are the he’s-so-darn-adorable smiles—just because he is and it makes you smile. There are smiles of sympathy … Continue reading Shades of a Smile