It's the Little Things....That We Celebrate....That We Miss

Little things. Most of us take the little things for granted. As parents, we do not always stop and recognize all the little things our children accomplish each and every day. Running up and down a hill, taking a quick sip from a straw, climbing the steps into the house, sharing toys with their friends, eating a cracker, waving goodbye, saying, "I love you"... all little things, and things we are still waiting to celebrate with our 3-year-old son, Brady.

Brady is a happy, precious little towhead. He has the brightest blue eyes you have ever seen. He sparkles. He also has a duplication on the tip of his first chromosome.  This disorder is called 1q43 if you are a doctor.  A whole bunch of questions and worry if you are a parent. 

Brady was a sick infant.  He had surgery 3 times before he was 1.  He was like a rag doll as a baby because of the low muscle tone.  He didn't smile.  He didn't laugh.  I don't think I actually saw what color his eyes were until he was ten days old, because his eyes were never open. I was worried every moment of his first year.  Ok, let's be honest,  I have been worried for most of his second and third years as well. Crawling came very slowly, walking took even longer and talking, well, talking has not come at all...yet.  Doctors, educators, experts all consider Brady developmentally delayed.  In "mom and dad" terms,  it means Brady is "behind."  I am realistic and I know that being a "little behind" or doing things "on his own terms" is how lots of kids develop.  However, as the years have passed, doing it on his own timeline, has put Brady very far behind.  I try very hard not to compare him to other little three year olds.  I try not to listen to my neighbors little girl, who was born a month after Brady, yell for her brother to come play with her.  I try not to feel that twinge of jealousy as I watch my three year old nephew play flag football with other little three year olds.  There are so many little things I want Brady to be able to do.  So many little accomplishments I am waiting to celebrate with him.  As the mother of a special needs child, I am trying to celebrate the little things.  I am also trying hard to not to spend so much time missing the ease of little things.    

I am hopeful, that by putting my experiences out there and sharing Brady's journey, that other moms, dads, teachers, doctors, siblings, friends and all the other people whose lives have been touched by a remarklable little person, like my Brady, can feel they have a forum to share.  Hopefully, you will follow me on this journey and you too can help us celebrate the little things...especially the day when Brady finally calls me by my name..."momma."

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