Luck, Love and Life

Today I went to the park, with my daughter. Not much of a park, it has a jungle gym, some swings, and a bunch of slides. The park has been there for about 40+ years. I remember it as a kid, when I would go over my Mom's friend's house to play with her kids. It was within walking distance of their house. Now, it is in the development across the street from my house. Of course, the park has been revamped, but some of the equiptment remains from the original park. The spring animals, come on, you all remember them, you climb up and sit on a pelican, say, or a seahorse, or a giraffe, and you can bounce and rock until you are dizzy. The municipality that maintains the park, they left a pelican and some sort of horse. They need a paint job, but the kids are still wild about them. It was a nice hour, and that is where I realized just how luck plays into your life.
Recently, my daughter had heart surgery. A minor surgery, a catheterization to close a PDA (small hole there since in utero.) But as far as I am concerned, she had heart surgery. The pediatric cardiologist did the procedure, so, to me, "Heart Surgery." I was so nervous about the whole thing, and my husband wouldn't talk about it before hand, not even when we were driving the 1 1/2 hours to the hospital to have it done, so he was a basket case.
Well anyhow, she came through with flying colors. She is fine, will be fine, and is a normal active 3 year old, chatter box.
The point that I started to make was: I met a lady and her oldest son at the park today. She also had an infant with her, a newborn. It turns out that she is my neighbor's sister in law. Her oldest son is 2 and a1/2. Cute as a button, but he is autistic. he was so happy to be playing outside in the park, and my daughter wanted so much to play with him. I watched him play while I chatted with his mom. She really is interested in knowing what makes him tick, and embraces the early intervention that her son is getting, and I give her a lot of credit, it sounds like a lot of work for the whole house, but in the end, it is so worth it. I sensed that she knows that. She was trying to work with him there at the park too. He wasn't too resistive and that was good. The little guy was laughing and running and I saw him kiss both mom and dad and hug them both too! He also gave dad a "high five" that was very cute. He doesn't talk, except for a few utterences of "weeeeee" on the slide and such, but waves "hi" and waves "goodbye." My daughter got a kick out of waving "bye," and told him that she would play with him again.

Luck, that is what I have on my side. The grace of GOD, too. I look at the three of my kids and thank God everyday that they are here withme, there is too much going on in this world that could take them away. I also thank GOD that I don't have to shoulder the burden of a child with a handicap, although some would look at it as a blessing in disguise. God only gives us the problems we can handle, that is what a parish priest told the congregation one Sunday, that I happened to be in church, and that I believe is true. I have had a few problems, but looking at them from the other side, I could and did handle them. Although, at the time, I wasn't sure, I did get through Now, looking back, I know, I wouldn't want to do any of it again. I guess it is true, hindsight is 20/20.
We make a commitment, the minute we decide to have children, a commitment to love and protect them from all of the evils and ills that we can protect them from. Sometimes, though, we can't protect them from whatever is inside of them. Then, as parents, we need to and have to, move on, keep going, and do what is best for the child. Keep loving him or her, and keep doing what needs to be done in order to let them live their lives to the fullest.
It is so true, that parents are totally protective. SOmetimes protective enough to bare our claws and move in for the kill, if someone threatens or wounds our child. Protective enough to see that we should let them be, too......................and protective enough to get outside help if it is necessary.
I stand and applaud the mom from the park. She is living her life as it comes. She is willing to see her son for the beautiful human being he is, love him and help him move through his life with whatever tools are necessary. He will be the richer for it, and so will her newborn, herself, and her husband. They will all love and protect each other. Isn't that what a family is supposed to do????? I hope so.
That is all for now................................................................