I am a stay-at-home mom raising my three kids. I have two, seven-year old, surviving triplet boys. The boys were identical triplets, but one passed away shortly after their premature (26 weeker) birth. The boys' prematurity has lead to cerebral palsy, meaning that they have brain damage. In my boys' case, the CP is considered mild, but one is not walking and the other has a lot of sensory, motor, and social issues related to that damage. I also have a daughter. She is 4-years old and feisty. She was full term and is considered typical.
Having two special needs children has put parenting into perspective. I know from having my daughter that most kids just learn what they need to learn. When it is time for them to crawl, they crawl. When it is time for them to eat, they eat. When it is time for them to talk, they talk. Sure, you can work with them and encourage those things, but for the most part, they just happen. For children with special needs, this is often not the case. I spent the first two years of my sons' life teaching them how to sit up, crawl, eat, talk, walk, color, use a spoon, listen to instructions, rotate their wrist this way or that, move their feet this way or that... you get the point. It is often frustrating trying to teach them things that are second nature to me as an adult. But, it has to be done and I am an eager learner.
I was told that my boys might never do things that most parents take for granted. They weren't supposed to talk, walk, or be anywhere close to being normal. IF they survived that is. The good news is that they did survive. Between God and our persistence, our boys are talking (and NEVER stop), one is walking independently while the other uses a walker and wheelchair, and are enjoying their childhood like any other little boys. I am not saying that we overcame everything they were dealt. I am not saying that everything can be overcome. But, some things can. They are light years further than where they should have been at this point.
I was told that my boys might never do things that most parents take for granted. They weren't supposed to talk, walk, or be anywhere close to being normal. IF they survived that is. The good news is that they did survive. Between God and our persistence, our boys are talking (and NEVER stop), one is walking independently while the other uses a walker and wheelchair, and are enjoying their childhood like any other little boys. I am not saying that we overcame everything they were dealt. I am not saying that everything can be overcome. But, some things can. They are light years further than where they should have been at this point.
I love to do lots of activities with the kids. I have NEVER been afraid to take all three with me to the places I want to go, even if that means I have to push a shopping cart while navigating my 8-year old in his wheelchair. I worked in childcare for about 3 years (2 working with school aged kids and 1 working with birth-preschoolers) before having my own kids, which is where I picked up a lot of great activities. I also have my teaching degree, but never started my career because of the circumstances surrounding my sons' birth. I use this experience and education on a daily basis, and definitely thank God that I decided on this major in college and for those job opportunities when I was younger.
I am currently homeschooling one of my sons, Ben, for 2nd grade, and my daughter, Kate, for preschool. My other son, Andy, is in a typical 2nd grade classroom this year at a public school. This is my second year of homeschooling.
My hope for this blog is that I can share my experiences with others out there that might be in a similar situation.
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