My daughter has been invited to five different birthday parties in the last 8 days ! Ahhh, sometimes my worst nightmare when I have to go out and buy a multitude of gifts and shuffle everyone around, and always be with her or find someone to be with her so she can participate – but it is so worth it in the end, and I am so very thankful that these other Moms take the time to include her. My dear friends always call and ask what would be appropriate for her, and what extra help they can provide to make it more fun. Gymnastics parties, Pump It Up parties, parties at the park, and bowling all were on her calendar in the last few weeks, and she went to and enjoyed each one. I love these other Mom’s for thinking to ask me what would make it best for her, and for seeing her as a typical kid who is their child’s friend.
I also love that my daughter gets to do social, age appropriate, fun things like birthday parties, and not spend all her time with adults in therapy and school. She needs that peer interaction, and even though she is a friendly girl and has a multitude of buddies, she still needs to work the ins and outs of relationships with kids her own age. Just as my ten and five year old need to.
Shea’s Brownie troop recently went to the forest preserve to learn about bugs and earn their coveted Bug Badge. These great women have included my daughter in every aspect of Brownies, and she is totally part of the group. For this excursion we brought her four wheeler and she tooled around with her sister and her net, and caught lots of cool bugs like all the other girls. She had a blast, and she was mobile and free. Just a sweet little Brownie collecting bugs !
But this year, like the others, she did just fine. She used an old walker with big wheels, and she participated in everything. Her gym teacher and her wonderful aide made it all possible. For the egg race they glued her egg into the spoon so it would not drop. For the sack race, they took the sack and clipped it across the front of her walker and off she went. For the three-legged race they strapped one of her friends legs to one pole of her walker. Somehow it worked.
She won the balloon toss with her friend Mackenzie and she was laughing so hard at the Tug Of War I think she might have let the other class win.
She had a blast, and she was a regular kid like everyone else. They made it work, they went out of their way and they made sure my daughter was included ! I could not ask for more.
Her poor little legs were throbbing when she got home and she was more tired than I can remember. But a wet field and a walker, and lots of fresh air will do that to a girl.
But as always, I am thankful for the other Moms and the Brownies, and for the teachers and aides who make this whole life work for her. You will forever have my gratitude !
I just discovered your blog and I love it already! I am nineteen years old and I have spastic diplegia too — I can’t wait to read more about you and your amazing family. Thank you so much for sharing, and I love that Shea doesn’t let CP hold her back! That persistence will get her far in life. 🙂 Hugs!
K
Your words meant so much to me, I cannot thank you enough. I met some girls your age water skiing with Shea when she was 6 and just their attitude made me realize that this was all going to be ok. Seeing young women living and thriving with CP makes a huge difference for both Shea and me. Thanks for sharing.
Patty