"We know different is more than ok, it is wonderful!"
I struggle with that a little bit because although different is wonderful, it is also hard and ugly and not so wonderful at times and I feel it should be acknowledged and talked about.
I get it! We all want to read and hear about how grand life is. How are children are our everything and how much everything they do is just wonderful! We want to share on social media, through blogs, at church, and in our women's monthly meetings that our children are excelling at everything they do. They are right on target with development, and everything is...better than ever!
Reality check:
We are a culture who seeks pleasure and avoids pain
We want instant gratification
We don't want to hear the hard stuff, the true stuff
We would rather be lied to than spoon fed the truth
My point is this....
Yes, Sophie is a huge blessing. Yes, I believe Sophie is changing the world, one heart at a time. Yes, I see the world differently when I look at it through her eyes. Yes, I know that she was perfectly made in the image of God and who she is, is exactly who He wanted her to be.
BUT...and this is a big BUT....
I also know that Sophie being different can be hard. It can be ugly at times. It takes work. It is an emotional roller coaster. It can be stressful. I worry way more than I thought I ever would. I can't just enjoy the moments because I have to think about all the "what ifs" or the "what will her future look like?"
I believe that these are the real, raw emotions that we need to talk about. We need to embrace. If we can't talk about the hard stuff, how can we fully embrace the good stuff? If we can't be honest and share openly about the struggles raising a child with different abilities than others, how we will ever form true, genuine, lasting relationships and support systems?
Melt downs will happen, some more frequently than others.
.
Hospital stays are always just lingering in the not so distant future.
Thunderstorms will continue to happen and during those times, you just might have to hold your son in your arms reassuring him that he is going to be alright, hoping he is trusting you!
Never-ending crying episodes and heart break will continue to occur because my daughter can't tell me what hurts.
I appreciate this mother's perspective. I agree that we have a choice on what we choose to see, but I truly believe we have to recognize the hard, embrace the ugly and celebrate the good! If we can do that, we can do anything!
