Differences Are What Make The World Such A Beautiful Place!

One thing I have learned is that children don't notice the differences in Alex.  Adults are the ones who notice.  Adults are the ones who ask questions.  Adults are the ones who make hurtful comments. We tell our children to accept the differences of others, yet they see us, day in and day out, talking bad about people because of their differences.  They dress differently, they parent differently, they live their lives differently. We constantly point out the differences of others.  I'm guilty of it as well.  Alex is popular at school and the kids love him and don't see him as different.  It's not the children.  It's the adults.

Alex's difference is Apraxia. It is a disorder of the brain and nervous system making it difficult to perform tasks or even speak, even though you understand what you are supposed to be doing/want to say and are willing to perform said tasks.  It is a very frustrating disorder. I knew a mom who wouldn't let her child invite Alex to play at their house because she didn't want to have to watch him for fear that he would be high maintenance or she wouldn't be able to handle him.  I have had people ask me, right in front of Alex, if he is mentally ill.  I think he was 5 when he first came to me and asked what "retarded" meant.  Life is not easy for Alex and Jacob and I are adamant that we do not let him take the easy way out of things.  No one else, out there in the big cruel world, will let him take the easy way out.  We want to prepare him for that.  He is one determined little guy and he is one of the coolest and strongest people I have ever had the privilege of knowing, much less the privilege of getting to hear call me "mom."

We are making changes in our home.  A LOT of changes.  Changes for the better.  Changes that will not only make our children better adults, but changes that will make us better adults, and therefore, better parents. Differences are what add beauty to this world in which we all live.  Different colors, different patterns, different thoughts, different shapes . . . the beauty of our world is made up of differences.  We cannot tell our children to be nice to people who are different and then turn around and point out differences of others in negative tones.  I love that the children in Alex's class don't notice his differences.  They just see Alex for who he is.

We should all strive to see the world the way our children do.  What an awesome place it would be!

Motherhood

We got to Kaitlyn's doctor's appointment this afternoon and a sign indicated that the doctor was running 30 minutes behind.  Kaitlyn ran around, a huge smile on her face as she enjoyed the open space of the huge waiting room.  The boys found a little table and arm wrestled a few times. Kaitlyn started getting brave and trying to get a little farther away from me.  So, a light bulb went off in my head. I took my three gremlins to the vending machine and let them each pick a snack.  After obtaining the snacks, which had them all bouncing and smiling with excitement, we headed back to the waiting area where we found some chairs.  My children happily ate their snacks.  The boys were talking and in their excitement they had grown loud.  I guess when you live with three happy and active children you get used to the noise.  I didn't realize they were being too loud until an older woman sitting near us started sighing loudly and rolling her eyes.

Let me just point out that my children weren't throwing tantrums.  They weren't running and chasing each other around the room.  They were sitting together, having a snack and enjoying each other's company.  Sure they were laughing and talking loudly, but, HELLO!  They're children! 

A few minutes passed and a nurse called the woman's name.  She sighed loudly and nearly shouted, "Finally!"  

My mini van is a mess.  We are in it a lot going to and from school, appointments, therapies, meetings, play dates.  We stay busy and my kids have a lot of snacks in that van and they have eaten meals in that van.  Every once in a while we clean it out and vacuum it but for the most part, there ARE signs of life in there--signs of little people.  (The plus side is, if we're ever in the van and some one says, "I'm hungry!" You can say, "Dig around and see what you can find!" I'm joking, of course--what's life without humor!) 

We encourage our children to be creative.  The boys make up games in the van on long trips and make up stories while we are sitting in a waiting room waiting for some one's name to be called. They laugh because they are happy, not because they are trying to get on your nerves. 

I am proud of my children.  No, they don't sit quietly and read a magazine as an adult would, but they don't run around the waiting room screaming.  They aren't disrespectful or rude. They are good kids and I find it sad that having them sit near you and do nothing more than talk or laugh irritates you. 

I guess, where motherhood is concerned, we just get used to the sounds of our children talking.  Hearing my children laugh makes me happy, I just can't help it. I guess motherhood does a lot to a person. You won't hear me complaining!