It’s encouraging to discover that, not only am I a help to the parents/grandparents of my small charge, he misses me, too. Over a month ago, when I had to stay home with a cold, he asked for me: “Grandma, Ra-Ra [that’s me] play, PLEASE!!” So all the work I make him do, all the program activities and therapy…I’m not driving him crazy. Even he feels the benefits.

He continues to improve and amaze us. On days when I’m tempted to just let him play with the iPad while I let my tired brain sort through his program, this pushes me onward. He is growing, his mind expanding. His cleverness finds outlets now. There is hope for his future, not just that he will be happy but that he will learn how to help others. Somewhere in his mind there is brilliance.  We are learning how to tap into it.

Acceptance doesn’t have to equal complacency.  Acceptance doesn’t mean we let him alone.  He will never be like everyone else.  None of us ever are if we know what’s good for us.  He will never be typical, because we cannot erase what God has done.  He will ALWAYS have that extra chromosome.  But we know about potential.  And he has a lot of it.  Acceptance + love = pushing the limits/reaching for the sky/refusing to sit on a diagnosis.  He is special.  I am special.  And we are teaching each other.

*to learn more about his therapy program see this page.