All in time

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We have a 4 year old boy! He loves to be happy, don’t we all right? Archer’s vocabulary has begun to expand exponentially. He chooses to express words with great intonation. Awesome, cool, and Wow are a few of his favorite words, along with soccer ball, and "play rocks". His new favorite actions are to stand at the door and with slight demand say, “open door handle!”


I knew, all in time we’d be blessed with his spoken language. A few words where there, but lingered for months. What did it? Being around his peers speaking at preschool. This provided him the experience needed to synthesize his own spoken language. Hello, language neurons, thank you for sparking and connecting.   
Ha-PPY, is a feeling Archer understands, and will be quick to express if the situation presents itself.


As a parent of a child with challenges, introductions can be tough and stir-up several emotions. I choose to explain how he loves music, being outdoors, and getting dirty. He can count up to 10, and just the other day counted up to 5 and back down to one. Then, I have a choice, do I say more?


If I do, it might go like this: He is currently mastering the art of standing up, recently finding independence by standing at doors and walls. What a delight this gives him to stand, being introduced to more of his world. And there is the catch. They may ask again his age.


Didn’t you learn more about him as a child, and have less judgment, by the above introduction than me leading into a conversation saying “Hi, I have a child with multiple disabilities, how’s your day?” People tend to shy away, or provide an offering of a pity party.


Then they met him.


Some will observe, some make a cordial comment, some will go further and ask questions. This is a point where I must gauge how interested they really are. A majority of the time, the first question has to do with physical abilities of “Will he ever walk?”. Why does this have to be the standard of comparability?


Here again, a choice of which explanation to use. And then I devised a simple statement “it’s neurological, brain-based.” This statement either compels one to learn more, or extinguishes the conversation.


I enjoy explaining what is going on with my child, and do not find it offensive if you want to learn more. Let’s spark a conversation! Once you learn, it is my hope you will spread his soulful message and teach others. Keep the conversation moving forward.


Speaking of conversations, a few months back I had a conversation with a fella, who coordinates an adaptive program, providing access to people faced with challenges. We were visiting about the details of getting Archer up on the mountain.


Yes, the ski hill.


While visiting and interacting with Archer, he commented “So often these individuals are WRITTEN OFF, assumed no potential.” And that is why his job is so amazing, to provide access for individuals to get out there, and experience RIDING the WHITE THUNDER! Instead of being written off they are written INTO the experience.


He ended the conversation by saying “Keep making the synapse little dude, see you next time on the hill!”
First, we must glove train, I presume, ultimately we will end up duct taping the gloves on, for safety of course!


It is when you find people sharing your same passion, things will happen, all in time.


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