Thanks For Including My Son

This week my son went with the entire Kindergarten on a field trip to the local fire house. We walked two-ish miles round trip and it was pretty fun. I was excited that he walked without complaining one time and that he did his best to stay quiet during the presentation. I brought snacks and books and we went off to take little breaks when he got bored but overall he did a great job. His favorite word is currently "NO" so when we first asked if he wanted to go inside the fire truck he of course said he did not want to but eventually he changed his mind and took his obligatory photo.

 

The field trip itself was not actually the highlight of the day. We went with all of his general education peers and one of the boys that was there was part of the buddy program and I had been wanting to meet him. My son's teachers have told me about this particular boy and that he asks to be with my son and enjoys his company. Last week was his birthday and even though he celebrated with his class, he made sure to send a goodie bag with my boys name on it, home with him in his backpack. When I hear about special children I instantly want to meet their parents because while parents aren't responsible for everything their kids do and say, kindness is taught and absorbed starting at birth.

 

I'm always torn with this whole being nice to my son thing because everyone should be kind all the time and simply accepting and embracing a special needs person should not be reward worthy. Still, making someone feel comfortable and included when they otherwise might not feel that way, is really such a kind act and I wanted to make sure this family knew how much their actions mean to my family. I was excited when Nash's teacher told me who the boy was and I was even more excited when I realized his mother had come along on the field trip. I went over to her and tapped her on her shoulder and told her that I wanted her to know that her son is very special and that she is doing a great job. She welled up a little and thanked me and it was really a nice little moment. The kindness and open-mindedness that she has shared with her young son will not only be with him throughout his life but it will be with the people who he touches in his lifetime.

 

I knew the fire station would be a fun experience but I did not know that it would include a wonderful moment of thanks and gratitude.

What's Your Super Power?

I am coming off of a somewhat rocky couple of weeks that I described to my friend best by comparing myself to one of the ladies who carries full baskets over her shoulder on a pole, only I was having a hard time lifting the load.

 While I was picking my son up from school today I noticed a little saying that really affected me. My friend's daughter is in the same class as my son and I noticed that she had a license plate frame that said "I'M RAISING A CHILD WITH AUTISM. WHAT IS  YOUR SUPER POWER?" Immediately my mind started racing. Raising a special needs child really is one hell of a super power. Raising kids in general is super enough (believe me I know I have a typically developing son too) but the constant work and attention that go into helping our children get on a more standard path is literally exhausting. Extremely rewarding too no doubt but we sure do earn our good nights sleep.. just kidding I haven't slept one night in 6.5 years but we absolutely earn our keep.
Having said this, I realized as I drove home still thinking about those words, that so many things we do on a daily basis are really super powers but we are so hard on ourselves or have such high expectations that we don't celebrate our worth nearly enough.

I thought about little things that each of us are good at and how everyone has their own set of unique skills that enhance their super-ness and make them so special. I realized that we all should really take a moment to make a list of all the super skills that we possess. I don't know about wearing a sandwich board with your list but honestly I think it may not be a bad idea. Why don't we celebrate the little things we have to offer more often? Why don't we realize that our little skills set us apart from everyone else and that they aren't really that little after all?

I decided to come home and make a list of my top super powers and then ask everyone I know to make a list of their top 3 super powers. Don't be shy. Brag about yourself. It's really time. You don't have to stop at 3 but you can't stop at 2 ;). Here is my list of super powers 1-3.

1. I am raising two amazing children. My son with special needs has a lot of work left to do but he is thriving and he  makes me proud everyday. My typically developing son inspires me everyday, makes me laugh constantly and has proven to me without a doubt that I may not be good at everything but I have motherhood down pat.


2. I make/host an amazing brunch and bake delicious French toast casserole. My nephew is turning 16 next month and 6 months ago he requested that I make it for him on his birthday. That is quite the compliment.

3. My inner cheerleader never takes a day off when it comes to lifting my own spirits or cheering up a friend or family member. There are of course some days when I say she is operating with a sprained ankle but regardless, she is always there to cheer. I don't like to see other people feeling down and I don't like to feel down myself so this inner cheerleader gets her pom poms out the minute negativity is present and she doesn't stop until there are smiles all around.


So that's my list of super powers. What are your super powers?!