A Special Mother's Day

What a privilege it is to greet you this Mother's Day. 
Happy Mother's Day to you moms out there!

Me with my babies

I'm sure you will all agree with me that motherhood is not what you dreamed it would be.  It is better.

I don't know about you, but my life was supposed to be normal.  Silly me to think there was any such thing.  Based on all of the twists and turns in the road growing up, I should have learned that life makes the decisions sometimes and you just roll with the punches.  Parenthood has been an exceptional journey for me.

Yesterday, was our 4th annual Ready Set Run event for the Autism Center of Tulsa.  How amazing it is to be a part of such a great group!  The disturbing thing is that I would never have chosen to make it such an important part of my life if I hadn't had a Michael.  My son, Michael, has Asperger's Syndrome - a high functioning form of autism. 

For me, this has been a rough year in the whole autism realm.  Changes going on everywhere and puberty looms in the near future.  Oh boy.  Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy.  I know this is not going to get easier and the reality of this is exhausting me.  Thank goodness for my friends who walk a similar path to mine.  We hold each other up.

My most important mom tool has really been my friends.  Whenever Team Michael gears up for the annual run, I get a little emotional.  Each and every individual who has ever shown up or donated to our team has a special place in my heart.  It makes me tear up every single year (but they don't know that).  It means a lot to me to have the support of our friends who do not walk this road. 

Team Michael 2010

There is a uniqueness to raising a special needs child.  The hills and valleys are more extreme.  There is no joy like hearing your child speak for the first time - when you were not sure if they ever would.  There is no pain like watching your child be ostracized from a group intentionally.  Where there is deep pain and extreme elation you will find your passion.  One of mine has become autism and supporting those who can't help themselves.  Because our youngest son is adopted, adoption has become another passion for me.

I leave you today with a little insight from a favorite poem of mine.  If you know a mom of a special needs kiddo, send her a special note today.  She'd be glad to know you thought of her.

Mothering is for a lifetime.  For some of these moms, it means their child will live with them for a lifetime.  Think about it.


Living in My Skin

The Insider's View of Life With a Special Needs Child

Someone I love relies on me in ways you will never understand.
Someone I love endures pain and challenges that break my heart and renew my spirit at the same time.
Someone I love is unable to advocate for themselves for things that most of us take for granted.
Someone I love will never have the opportunities that every child should have.
Someone I love will need conditional love and support after I am gone - this frightens me to the core.
Someone I love encounters pity, stereotyping responses and prejudice at every turn, because they look, and act and/or learn differently from others.
Someone I love has needs that require me to allow "outsiders" to have power and input in areas that should be mine alone to meet.

Someone I love will continue to look to me for everything in life long after other children are able to assume a place as part of the world.

Someone I love has needs that require more time and energy than I have to give.

Someone I love has needs that mean I am not able to meet basic needs of my own.

Someone I love has needs that have become the driving force behind major decisions my family makes.

Someone I love has changed me in ways I will never be able to describe.

Someone I love has taught me about love and about the really important things in life...

Copyright 2000 by Communication Skill Builders

A Harcourt Health Sciences Company

Author: Lori A. Hickman

For you moms out there - enjoy your day.  Be thankful for your babies and the experience to mother them. 
You are a treasure.

~Mrs. Priss~