Getting this child of mine to do what he needs to do on a daily basis is a struggle. His intelligence masks his special needs, making it difficult for people to really understand how challenging it is to parent effectively and patiently without breaking his spirit and altering who he was created to be. Those who know my dear one, knows good and well what I’m talking about. I mean those who really know him, not the people who I allow a keyhole view into my life. I mean the folks that can come by and fall asleep on my couch, those people know what I’m talking about.
It’s like the movie, “50 First Dates” where Drew Barrymore has to be reminded on a daily basis who she is, except, my son needs to be reminded to do daily things that most people do naturally. Brushing his teeth, washing his hands, putting on clothes, brushing his teeth, doing these daily duties are not embedded in his mind. I even have to remind him to read the list that is posted in his room to remind him to them. I guess I need a list as well, reminding me that my sweet boy will need to be reminded daily and not to be frustrated, but to lower my expectations. Not of him as a person, because I am sure that whatever he does, he will do it greatly, but I need to relax and understand that I am not parenting just any child. I am parenting my child, uniquely created by God, for me and with part of me.
Thank God for praise and prayer, because that is the only thing that salvaged the rest of my day that seemed to be doomed from the start. I enjoyed my walk and weight routine, although my leg cramped up and I had to limp for a mile. All in all, today was a much better day than it could have been. At the end of the day, when it’s time for school to end, I am excited to see him and hear about his day, whether it was good or bad, today was a good day. I miss him and I pray that he enjoy his life, daily and that I am teaching him how to be good person, with the character of Christ. I am hoping that he listens and understands and takes it all in.
Maybe one day he will surprise me by waking up, getting dressed, brushing his teeth and eating his breakfast… maybe he won’t. Either way, he is mine and while he causes me more chest pains than Fred Sanford suffered, I love him and I wouldn’t trade him for anything at all.