Lovin' Life with our blue eyed beauties

We interrupt the adoption celebration 

for a little brag post.  

And a confession from the mama 

of  two amazing little girls
who both have
an extra chromosome. 

 

Last weekend we went to a pumpkin patch 

with our friends Sheila and Kenadie.

As we were leaving Sheila told us about

skating lessons at a skating rink

near their house

and invited us to come.

Hmmm...

Wednesday night a text came in

from Sheila reminding me about

skate lessons the next day.

Here are some of the thoughts

I was having:

  

Don't wanna do it.

I'm nervous.  

It will be too loud.

Lila will probably melt down.

Mama will probably be embarrassed.

It's an hour away~ too far to drive

for a 5 minute stay.

Don't wanna do it.

Thursday morning I woke up

knowing what I needed to do.
I had to make the drive
to the skating rink

and give my sweet girl a chance.

So I asked her.

"Lila, do you want to go 

roller skating?"

 To which she replied,

"YES! Sounds so fun!"

Decision made.

We busted butt and made it 

to the skating rink on time.

I was a mess while driving there.

A hundred scenarios raced

through my mind.

None of them were good.

Still, my little girl

deserved to

make the decision for herself 

whether she wanted

to learn to roller skate
or not.

We arrived at the skating rink

just as Sheila and Kenadie

were pulling up.

*Sigh of relief*

I don't know about you but for me

it is so helpful when I don't have to

enter into the unknown by myself.

Wait, let me clarify.

I'm fine heading into the unknown

when it's just me.

When the happiness/acceptance

of my girls is at stake, it sure does help

to have reinforcement.

In the form of a dear friend

who had to walk away from the safety

net we had when our girls were little

because her husband got transferred.

The same safety net I had to walk away from

when my husband was transferred.

 A dear friend who was just what the

doctor ordered walking into that skating rink.

It took a little while to find the right skates,

with the wheels tightened just right, but

Lila was finally ready to "skate".

She sat with Kenadie 

and the other kids 

while the instructions were given

When it was time to skate around the rink

she had her bottom firmly planted on the ground.

Smack-dab in the middle of the rink.

I'm talking

cemented to the ground.

Three different employees tried to talk

her into getting up but she wasn't having it.

We waited about 10 minutes but 

she wasn't budging.

Sheila volunteered to go out

and get her.

When Sheila brought her to me

Lila asked to go home.

And let me tell you that's

where I wanted to go too.

But I knew what I had to do.

I had to take my sweet girl

with her headphones and shaky legs

and make her give skating

a fair shake.

She wanted to come.

She wanted to learn.

And I needed to push her.

So push I did.  

We stayed on the carpet but I made 

her walk in those skates.

At first she resisted.

Oh, she wasn't happy with me.

We kept walking,

from one end to the other.

After a little while she didn't

want to hold my hands anymore.

She wanted to do it herself.

She even danced a little bit when

a song from The Lion King was played.

And mama did a happy dance.

I took these videos with

tears in my eyes.

 

 

Not to be outdone, 

Lexi decided to walk like

a pro through that skating rink.

Thankfully Sheila helped me 

keep up with them!

It's hard to put my daughter out there.

I know I will face these same feelings

with Lexi when she gets older. 

I've been in situations 

where it has been

very clear that Lila wasn't welcome

in the typical environment I had

chosen to include her in.

Kids can be mean.

Parents can be mean.

But if we don't push them

how will they ever know 

what they are capable of?

How will we ever know

 what they are capable of?

And how will they ever 

get the chance to show

 the rest of the world

what they are capable of?