Sit on the Potty Your Way!

Having children is a disruptive adventure! Parents expect their children to be mini-adults and to automatically know how to behave and do ‘things’. At least that has been my interpretation. I catch myself in that same vein at times and thank goodness I have a way that brings me back to reality and reminds me that this IS their first ‘rodeo’. They haven’t been here over 40 years and are learning the ‘how’ and ‘why’ and often the ‘what’ of appropriate behavior.
Three children has been super fun and super exhausting. I applaud anyone who has more than one child. I have found that having more than one has been quite an act in discernment. The blame is always given to someone else and the times a child accepts blame you secretly want to tell them... ‘honey that was not something to be proud of and you should have blamed your sister!’ But instead you cheer their honesty and try to acknowledge that it is great to own your own behavior.
To say having a child with special needs is tiring would be a gross understatement. There are times as a parent you want to scream when you can’t seem to get through to them. You try every imaginable creative way to reach understanding and it seems like a bridge over a crevice with fog between points A & B. Your child is on the other side and you can never quite get them to understand what you are saying from your side of the crevice. All you see is fog and no clarity in understanding. I don’t know how many times my wife and I have shook our heads and said ‘how do we get through to her.’ I can not imagine what it is like for the child.
This morning our very special child got up. She dressed herself. She ate her breakfast. She watched a little Spongebob Squarepants. She was told to go use the potty and actually went without multiple prodding by mom or dad. All in all it was an AWESOME morning. While we were busy getting ourselves ready and making sure everything was done we looked at her in the bathroom and what do we see.... She is sitting on the potty on the side of the commode. Why? Who knows! I could not help but laugh. There was nothing inappropriate about what she was doing. She had used the potty. Her posture was just..... different and different doesn’t mean bad.
I have been reading blogs for years of friends with special needs children and I have for years lamented that I could not imagine what it would be like to raise a child who is .... different. I now know that feeling. Different can be heart-wrenching at times. This morning watching my beautiful 4-year-old girl sitting sideways on the potty made me laugh. As difficult as different can be ..... it is beautiful!
jamie

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