Category: disabilities
New Ideas
I’m glad when I meet different people. They come with different ways of knowing. Every nurse who has come to my family has been a blessing in learning.
I was struggling with the care of my son. He’s older. I’m older. A new nurse to us came with a day way of doing things for my son.
Imagine having some time to breathe and not worry about his bedtime routine. I always thought I have to bathe him and get him ready to sleep. As a person with Epilepsy, he needs more sleep and a routine that is pretty consistent.
Our new nurse suggested we let her get him to sleep. She gets him up in the morning and puts him in the bed before leaving. This was news for me. I thought, this makes sense.
We tried it. She put him in bed before her shift finished. He was asleep when she finished. I felt like I was given a gift. I was able to focus on dinner for my other children. I felt at peace focused on one thing. You know when someone gives you something you didn’t realize was what you were hoping for way down in the depths of your heart. Your body needed. Your heart and psyche needed. Peace and relaxation in my mind.
Blessing.
New Territory
As my youngest son fights to be like the others, this warrior leads the way to a traditional Sunday service. He pushes forward, literally; never ceasing to inspire and push each individual to expand their boundaries.
He has multiple diagnoses, which he wars against daily; Post Traumatic Epilepsy with Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome and Trisomy 21. The young man is a true warrior! The amazing soldiers at his side demonstrating what being a man requires; empathy and assistance as a servant of God. Amen!
Homeschool so far
We’ve been doing this for two years now and I see the benefits outweigh the problems.
My three sons are on different journeys. All three have different modalities to learning. While this can be perceived as an acrobatic feat, it meets my individuals where they are in their learning.
The youngest has been in homeschool for several years, but has impairment. Teaching him has been so rewarding because he’s had more learning to do. His education has focused on rehabilitation from his tragic accident ten years ago. We thought he would never walk. He does that now.
My middle son has other challenges. He struggles with himself. He is gifted but lacks confidence. Giving him the opportunity to learn at his own pace has improved his confidence.
My eldest has the combination of both worlds. He is incredibly talented with certain modalities of learning that are not accessible in the regular school curriculum. He had to be homeschooled so that his curriculum would reflect his desired learning. Left with the track system in his past school would have caused a severe rejection of learning.
It’s unfortunate that the public and private school sectors don’t have the flexibility of homeschooling. I’m grateful for my teaching degree because I have the knowledge of curriculum design with the parental knowledge of my students to help them succeed in their learning.
Progress with Patience and Persistence
My work is never finished. I rise before the dawn often coming from a two hour nap just hours before. He’s been striving to achieve, and I’m thankful. I never know when the miracle comes, and it’s better that way. I persist because of this. I believe he does his best to maintain reciprocity.
It’s these moments I feel it necessary to be his cheerleader.
He manifests progress in mysterious ways. He learns to creep his achievements. Using his strong right hand to hold onto the counter top, he shifts his weight to host his body, while moving towards the sink. Then, as if he changed his mind, he turns his body around, holding with one hand then switching to his weakest hand to hold on the counter. All the while he has nothing to balance himself except for his legs.
I froze as I watched him work this out for the first time.
“Take your time”, I encouraged.
Step by slow, deliberate step. He did it! When he reached me, I pulled him into a big hug. He looked up at me, smiling with great pride.
Each day is new! Hallelujah.
clevercraftyantimere.com 