Ashlynn is 14 years old. It’s almost unbelievable to me that a decade ago, an entire TEN years ago, we almost ended up a tragedy. It’s so traumatic even now I can never re-read the post. I‘ll link it here, but I’ll never re-read it. I don’t need to. It’s forever branded on my brain like a tattoo. She was four at the time. I still don’t know if she
When you have a child, you expect to teach them about the world. When you have a special needs child, you realize you have to teach the world about them. When you have an Ashlynn, like I have, you realize Ashlynn has something to teach the world. I didn’t expect to be the parent of a child with a rare genetic mutation. I had never considered two very important words
I thought about how swings go up and down and up and down and how Ashlynn smiles and giggles through it all. I thought about how swings are a lot like life in that way.
Those familiar with my story know that I missed apraxia in Ashlynn because I was convinced she had CP (cerebral palsy). She had a significant birth history and had to be pulled out via C-section and all of her motor milestones were late. Tummy time was a nightmare. I was always so stressed about it because she literally seemed like she was suffocating and couldn’t pull herself up for air.
My dearest Ashlynn, Your courage amazes me daily. It inspires me and pushes me beyond any limit real or imagined. Today was your first day of 3rd grade. You have been waiting for this day since the last day of 2nd grade. Actually, quite possibly since the first day of 2nd grade when you told me,“After 2nd grade you I will be in 3rd grade!” I emphatically responded, “We need
This year as you talk to you children about their new teacher, new classroom, and new adventures, I beg you to talk to your kids about being kind. I beg you to explain to your child that children with disabilities are just like them, but it might take a little longer to understand or get to know them. If nothing else though, please just teach your children to be kind. Maybe ask about something they did that was kind alongside your questions of who they played with or what they learned.