A Letter To My Son

This week is bursting with emotions.  It is the last week of school; a time that is met with excitement and impatience as you await summer vacation.  This year, your excitement is met by immediately starting summer school the following Monday.  I watched you skip down the sidewalk to the van after school today; a huge smile spread across your face.  Summer school or not, you are still excited.

Apraxia Awareness Day is Wednesday.  A day to bring this little known disorder to light and educate people on something that should hold you back, but instead, gives you wings to fly . . . your very own super power, if you will.  It has not slowed you down. It has not taken your happiness.  It has not discouraged you or made you feel like giving up.  Everyday you are met with new challenges.  I watch you work twice as hard to do half of what other kids your age can do so easily. I watch you struggle.  I am always met with a smile and two sparkling eyes as you shrug your shoulders and say, "Well, I did my best."  You know that is all we ask and we couldn't be more proud of you.  You have taught us so much about being a strong person, about determination and a positive attitude.

You have grown so much over this past year.  It has been quite a journey and I'm so blessed to have been able to see the changes in you.  We once spent mornings in tears as you begged me to let you stay home from school.  "It's too hard and I can't do it! Please don't make me go."  I'd fight back tears and force a smile of encouragement and explain why you had to go.  It was never easy, but by the end of the day you were fine.  This year we had no meltdowns.  We had no unhappy mornings met with tears and begging to stay home.  This year I was met with smiles and a happy boy who didn't mind going to school, even though it was still hard.  We watched you go to a new school where you knew no one and you made some amazing friends.  We watched your happiness and strength grow and blossom and we got to witness the results of all of your hard work.

Now, we are met with circumstances that seem to be out of our control and that is okay.  As your mother, I can't help but be a little emotional and worry about you. You turn to me and smile, your super hero cape blowing in the wind and I am reminded that you truly are one of the strongest people I know and I couldn't be more proud of the amazing little person we have been blessed to call ours. Whatever this new chapter brings, we'll face it together and I know you'll use it as another opportunity to show the rest of us what it really means to be strong and persevere.

I hug you tightly and ask, "Do you know how much I love you?"  You smile and answer, "Yes, 100%."  I couldn't have said it better myself!