Today is a Good Day.

Today is a good day. In my life, it's the small victories that bring the most joy. My son is nine. For the past two days, he dressed himself and brushed his own teeth...without being asked, without prompts or redirection. That may not seem like a big deal for anyone with kids older than 4, but it's a first for us. A first for our son.

Today is a good day. Today is the success of more than six years of work to get here. Today I see the fruits of my labours and I have confidence that we will obtain all the other goals we have set for this amazing little person we love!

Living with a person who has special needs changes your perspective and makes you cherish all the little moments that so many of us let slip by unnoticed. I am grateful that God blessed us with this little man who makes me slow down, pay attention, and really WATCH my children growing up. Today is a good day.

Paradise Lost....and maybe found again.

There is a simple pleasure in watching your children play when they don't know you are there. Just stopped by my son's school during first break and peered through the fence at him for a few minutes (a staff member actually came over to find out who the weird stalker mom was...very politely, mind you).

It was sunny, with a fresh breeze and he was running with abandon along with two other boys. They raced in big circles around the grass, arms wide, heads thrown back, big goofy boy grins on their faces...kings of their little world, filled with joy and innocence and the pleasure in moving your body that comes with youth and energy.

It took me back almost 40 years. I remember when my own body was that strong, when movement didn't require thought or effort, when my feet seemed to fly as I ran. I envy my son these days of childhood. And I take seriously my responsibility to protect them for him, to make sure he doesn't grow up too fast, to guard his innocence and joy as long as I possibly can. I pray that Eden does not fade too soon for you, my darling children.