*Sigh* This was a hard one for me.
The first day she covered her eyes as they lifted her up onto the wheelchair lift, and started crying. At that moment, I wanted to leap across the lift and take her off and tell her I would take her to school myself.
But I didn't.
Instead, I went inside and cried for about 30 minutes. I felt selfish. I felt like I was doing her a disservice and I should be taking my handicapped child to school. After all, I do stay home now. What excuse or reason is good enough for not taking her to school? What kind of a mother am I??
The enemy is very powerful. He did a fabulous job of making me feel like a huge failure that day.
Luckily, I had several friends speak wisdom, truth and encouragement over me that day. My sweet friend Monica, that I've known since elementary school, hit the nail on the head when she posted,
"You got this Momma. This will be something she will master and probably soon love and that will be hers. A big girl thing that she does that makes her more independent. It kills us as mommas to watch them go through the transition but in the end it will give her a sense of independence and I bet she will love it once you both get past the uncertainty."
Yes!! "A big girl thing that makes her more independent." This helped so much for me to let her go. She needs to feel like both of those things - a big girl and independent. I know I tend to overprotect her, and this was a step in the right direction; one small way of letting go snd not being fearful in letting her do things on her own. And if you know Landree, there aren't a whole lot of things she can do on her own.
I was finally feeling good about it. She'd been riding the bus over a week and the tears (from us both) were getting less and less.
Until.
The bus pulls up to our house for pick up and drop off. There is about a 3-5 minute wait if you pull up at the time Landree is getting on or off the bus. Since she's in a wheelchair it takes longer for her to get on and off and more situated than most.
Most of the cars driving down our street are friendly and patiently wait for the bus to turn off flashing lights and stop sign, and proceed on their way.
Not on this day. This day was full of grouchy jerks (if I'm being honest).
I had a couple cars accelerate quickly past the bus to make a point it took too long. But the icing on the cake?
Wait for it - (while I take in deep breaths and try to keep my composure).
A man drove past the bus stared me down AND THREW HIS ARMS IN THE AIR!!! In disgust. He was totally irritated by the handicap bus being in front of my house and taking too long to load/unload my precious little girl in her wheelchair.
What.
Like. I'm still baffled at this moment that this even happened.
I just stood there with my mouth gaping open in complete astonishment. Like. Who does that? Who gets irritated by the sweet little disabled girl getting on and off the bus?!
Help me, friends!! Are there REALLY people like that out there??
So, the good feels and the making the right choice just dissipated in that moment. I was back to feeling like this was a mistake.
There he goes again. Satan. That jerk.
So I did what any typical mom would so in this day and age, I vented on social media, of course.
Duh.
The outpouring of sweet words and love for my Landreebug was so overwhelming, it almost took the negative feelings and actions of items away. Almost.
So the next day when it was time for Landree to get off the bus I had a small army of friends show up to support Landree and to stare down or wave at anyone who so dared to go there.
Y'all. The love I felt was so real. These people cared. I will forever be grateful for them. How good is our God to surround me with people who care?
Now. If there's ever a time I need you to hear me, like really REALLY hear me, it's now.
Right. Now.
Parents, teach your kids how to love everyone, all races, genders and abilities. Teach them to notice the difference but the person behind the disability, special need, syndrome, or spectrum. There is so much more to that person/child. But the key is to teach them by example.
They are watching you.
These Mommas that showed up to support my Landree, brought their kids with them. Their children were there watching their interactions with Landree, and how they loved and cheered her on.
As kids, will they get it? Will they know why their parents are doing this? Not initially, I'm sure, but they're going to know how to face it and make the person with a disability feel normal.
If you take my kids, for example, when they see a person in a wheel chair, or a child flapping their arms for no reason, etc... They do not look at me and ask why, generally. They're so used to being around Landree that "different" isn't "different" to them - it's a type of normal.
Not everyone has a built-in "different" at home. But when encountering someone who is "different" teaching them love, acceptance and above all else, KINDNESS to these individuals, we are giving them a wonderful gift. One that they can teach their peers.
So when they see someone I'm a wheelchair, whether that be getting on/off the bus, or just seeing them around, their first instinct is to approach with acceptance, kindness and patience.
Parents, show them how it's done. What a wonderful gift you'll give them and to individuals with special needs.
We've been lucky with Landree, so far. She's been raised in a church where parents do this. I walk in the doors and there is someone, almost every Sunday, who sees Landree, holds out their arms and loves and accepts her. Therefore, kids do this, too. They think nothing different of her. What a beautiful portrayal of Christ's love for us. What a way to further His kingdom than to be living and accepting of all individuals of all abilities.
Who knows. Maybe Mr. Impatient Neighbor Guy was never shown by example how to love in this way. Maybe he was never loved in this way.
So parents, love and teach love. Be this to and for your kids. Imagine the impact they will make.
These parents did.
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