We are not "tragic" at all

You know life is really interesting. When I first realized that my son had some had of speech and language issue, I never thought of it as something that was a “tragic” event. I figured, okay, he has a setback, let’s do what we need to do to get him on the right road. I even went as far as thinking he might be autistic and I still didn’t think it was “tragic, “ because at the end of my day, he’s my son and I love him to death. Sometimes I look at his little face and my heart simply swells. It really is true that you don’t realize how much you can love until you love your child. I thought loving a man was an experience, but your child is a whole other matter altogether.

So I’ve settled the little munchkin into school and he loves it so I’m thrilled. He can’t wait to go there every morning and when there, he doesn’t even want to wait outside with his teachers, he wants to be in the classroom and getting ready for the fun stuff. In 6 hours, they do so much. They do singing and communicating lessons, work on the computer, do listening exercises with tapes, one on one activities with the teacher, group activities, arts and crafts, not to mention lunch time, nap time, snack time and time on the playground. At his other school, they only did the singing and communicating part in the mornings, one learning experience before lunch, nap and then one activity in the afternoon and then play time. I’d always thought he was bored and now it’s confirmed because he participates in everything that is done and his teachers think he’s settle in quite well.

As I dropped him off at school today, I once again saw the Mom brining her son in to school with his work dog. The stop and talk to the school resource officer (cop) and then make their way to get him to class. I think the little boy has some sight loss and that his dog helps him to get around school and that kind of thing. Then there’s another little girl who I see all time. She’s in her wheelchair and each morning her big sister wheels her into class. I think she has spina bifida.

So I go back to thinking about people thinking that my situation with Tris and his developmental delay is a disappointment or a sad or tragic event and I want to tell them to please can the whole sorry for me, Paul and Tris bit; because we don’t feel in the least disappointed in the situation. I think things like these force you to step up the plate with parenting even more so than over parents. You have to do more, know more and be more. I spend more time working with Tris and his language acquisition and other skills than I’m sure do most parents. I have to.

So, I look at the parents of the little boy with his dog and the little girl with her wheelchair and I’m sure they feel like me, no more disadvantaged than any other parent.