He's Jumping!

Today I walked in the door from some meetings at church and the kids are excited as usual. And I see my son jumping. I stand there speechless, question whether or not my eyes are truly seeing what I believe they are seeing, look at his feet as he jumps again and oh my goodness there is almost two inches between the floor and his foot. He continues to run down the hall, despite it scaring me and now he jumps up and down.

I have always said that I will not further handicap my son. And that's the advice I typically give to anyone - do NOT further handicap your child. And I really truly mean that, but at times, especially like today, it is so difficult to follow through. I understand if I look at the big picture, it's best for him to be a typical 4 year old, with 4 year old adventures and 4 year old races. So I watch him. Pray and let him be a 4 year old boy.

So today he's jumping. And I THANK THE LORD for choosing us to receive one of HIS extra special children.

Lil Louie had his IEP this past week. He is still 1.5 years away from starting Kinder but I am so glad to see that he is attending a school that cherishes him as much as we do. We discuss his limitations and how tired he gets and whether or not he will need extra quiet time once he starts Kinder. And in my head I think absolutely no way because my son will have to learn to adapt. He will have to work harder to accomplish the same functions that we all take for granted, but he has to adapt. Am I wrong for that? I understand that he has a physical disability. I get that better than anyone else. But it's just that a physical disability. I don't mean that Arthrogryposis is a trivial condition, it is not. But it's definitely not dire.

His intelligence astounds me. He takes my breath away on so many levels and shatters my heart and heals it a million times over, but I can't allow him to use his inability to use his limbs like others do, as an excuse.

It would be easier for me to coddle him. To shelter him. But my expectations for him cannot be any different than any of my other children. Therefore, I will continue to parent him with love and patience but definitely with more strength that I thought possible.