Daring to Dream

A few weeks ago Lexi's OT asked 

if she could interview me 

for a video she's putting together.  

She asked me if I had dreams 

for Lila and Lexi and if I would

 be willing to share them for the video.  

This kind of stuff always makes me 

so nervous I feel like 

I'm going to throw up.  

But my mind always goes back to 

a quote by Martin Luther King, Jr. 

 "Our lives begin to end the day we 

become silent about things that matter."

So I said yes. 

Do I have dreams for Lila

and Lexi?  

Absolutely.

I want them to

 be happy. 

I want them to live

as independently 

as possible.

But more importantly,

I want them

to have their own dreams.

I want them to know that everyone

has something of value to give.

Everyone can make 

a difference. 

Everyone has the 

ability to help others.

There are no exceptions 

to those rules.

I want to instill a sense of 

self-worth in them.

Being careful how I talk to them.

Being mindful of how I talk  

about them,

especially in front of them.

Focusing on what they can do

instead of what they can't do.

Recognizing their talents

more than their limitations.

It's hard because it seems

the focus is always

 on their deficits.

What they can't do.

What they struggle with.

How far they are

behind their typical peers.

It's what we hear

all the time.

From  

teachers, therapists,

counselors, psychologists,

doctors, nurses, etc.

It's their job 

to evaluate our kids

and tell us what's

"wrong" with them.

So we need to focus on

what's "right" with them.

I think before we can 

dare to dream for

our kids with

differing abilities,

we have to learn to

accept them

as they are. 

We need to focus on and

celebrate the little things.

Sometimes little things

 are all we have.      

Both of our girls can walk

and both of our girls

can feed themselves.

We don't take those things

for granted as we are reminded

that there are many people who

can't walk and/or feed themselves.      

Is it hard? 

 Yes. 

Sometimes it's really hard.  

You have to let yourself feel:

Sad

Disappointed

Cheated

Lonely

Jealous

Angry

the list goes on...

And then you have to 

shake yourself off and go on.

For the sake of your child.

Until it happens again.

And you let yourself feel it all again.

Acceptance comes in stages.

Acceptance is a journey. 

Dare to dream...