Gideon James' Journey

Got this as a forwarded email ... a lot of these apply to my own family. == Moms, a stranger walks among you. We look like regular moms, but we are the hybrid to your standard engine. Our child's disability altered us, enhanced us. Many words describe us: resilient, creative, protective, emboldened, sympathetic, fierce and determined. We are special needs moms. How do our lives stand apart from your own? Take a look under the hood and see for yourself. Regular Parents vs Special Needs Parents by Dawn Villarreal , One Place for Special Needs , May 2010 Regular parents tell their kids to wake up and get dressed in the morning. And they do it. Special needs parents put on battle gear to get our kids ready to start their day. Regular parents ask their kids if they brushed their teeth. Special needs parents prompt, “Brush your top teeth.  Brush your bottom teeth. Did you get the sides? Open your mouth. My God, give me that toothbrush! You’ve left half your mea...

This is a great read that is perfect for reflecting for this coming Holy Week . My co-egroup member Julie gave me permission to share her story. Please prepare some tissues for some happy tears :) ==== Unexpected Blessing  By: Julie J. Hunter  His name was Aaron , and I will never forget him. I was 16 years old and trying to hold down two jobs and finish my high school education. I babysat after school and on the weekends. My new job was an unbelievable opportunity. I was going to be the Easter Bunny at my local mall. Yes, you just read the words; I was the Easter Bunny. This opportunity was one of the most interesting jobs that I have ever had in my life. I mean, think about it I was being paid to "bounce"around the mall in a 7-foot fur covered rabbit suit, bringing smiles and giggles to children and adults of every age. Little did I realize that this job, this moment in my youth, would be one of the most rewarding of my life.  photo borrowed from co...

I read this from Kristi 's blog , an awesome mom to her son Billy. She wrote: "Its author dedicated it to a Canadian mom who lost her daughter at the hospital because the unwritten law for babies with Trisomy 13 in an emergency is DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) . Imagine, going to a hospital expecting them to save your child, and not knowing that they put a 'do not save' without telling you." Like her, I was also deeply touched by this writeup. May you other parents of special children draw strength and inspiration from this as well. === I am told one doctor said to another about a woman wanting to bear and deliver a child with known disabilities: "But who would want a child like that anyway"? Dear Doctor, Who would want a child "like that"? A person who wants to learn about love! A person who wants to know about self-sacrifice. A person who wants to know more about the value of life, who wants to move beyond the understanding o...

Got this forwarded poem from my friend Jackie Ranit who is a wonderful teacher of children with special needs ... == Heaven's Very Special Child A meeting was held quite far from earth. "It's time again for another birth." Said the angels to the Lord above. "This special child will need much love." His progress may seem very slow Accomplishments he may not show And he'll require extra care From the folks he meets way down there He may not run or laugh or play: His thoughts may seem quite far away In many ways he won't adapt And he'll be known as handicapped So let's be careful where he's sent We want his life to be content.

James loves words and letters. He enjoys being read to. He likes it when he hears people singing the alphabet or speaking in rhymes. He particularly gets excited when we show him big, bold letters on flash cards. The other night, Daddy and James played with letters. Our little boy seemed to have enjoyed seeing his name spelled out on the mat.

Got this from a forwarded message in one of my egroups. I wish I could thank the author for putting down in print what many of us are also exactly feeling and experiencing. == Many of you I have never even met face to face, but I've searched you out every day. I've looked for you on the internet, on playgrounds and in grocery stores. I've become an expert at identifying you. You are well worn. You are stronger than you ever wanted to be. Your words ring with experience, experience you culled with your very heart and soul. You are compassionate beyond the expectations of this world. You are my " sisters ." photo borrowed from dreamstime.com Yes, you and I, my friend, are sisters in a sorority . A very elite sorority. We are special. Just like any other sorority, we were chosen to be members. Some of us were invited to join immediately, some not for months or even years. Some of us even tried to refuse membership, but to no avail.

A fellow egroup member of mine, Candace Barnes , from  Special Child Exchange , wrote this piece last week for her 50th birthday. I laughed and I cried while reading it because she was pretty accurate in describing how moms (of kids with special needs) like us have to prioritize other things above and beyond what we would have wanted for ourselves. As I told her, I pray that when I reach the same age, I would also have the capacity to still find humor in every situation and to never lose hope like she does. Thanks so much Candace for allowing me to share your very inspiring writeup to my other parent friends :) ====== I always said when I turned 50 I would own a sports car - bright red and fast as they come. I always said when I turned 50 I would be living the life I wanted. When I turned 50 I would be a grandmother. When I turned 50 my children would be grown and gone with lives of their own - good jobs and happy relationships. When I turned 50 I would be ...

The piece below was written by Erma Bombeck on May 11, 1980, almost three decades ago. It has remained a powerful encouragement to many mothers whose kids have special needs. Happy Mothers' Day to all you wonderful moms out there, especially my kindred souls who were also chosen to take care of special angels in this world! === Most women became mothers by accident, some by choice, a few by social pressures and a couple by habit. This year, nearly 100,000 women will become mothers of handicapped children. Did you ever wonder how mothers of handicapped children are chosen? Somehow I visualize God hovering over Earth. As he observes, he instructs his angels to make notes. "Armstrong, Beth; son; patron saint, Matthew. Forrest, Marjorie; daughter; patron saint, Cecilia. Finally he passes a name to an angel and smiles, "Give her a handicapped child." photo borrowed from polyvore.com The angel is curious. "Why this one, God? She...

I am very thankful to have found this in another parent's website. I feel exactly the same way as Emily and I hope that this entry could somehow help you guys understand, and maybe empathize, with what parents like us are going through. I can honestly say it is a privilege to be entrusted by God with someone as special as my son. It has been a wonderful journey for our family and we'll keep on finding ways to look at the positive sides as we continue to have fun with our James :)  == Welcome To Holland By Emily Perl Kingsley I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability-to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this... When You're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip- to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make wonderful plans. The coliseum, Michelangelo's David. The gondolas of Venice. Yo...