We all have that cookie cutter dream of what it's like to raise a family. Goodness, there are even books entitled, What to Expect When You're Expecting and What to Expect the First Year, What to Expect the Second Year, etc.. If we are too fixed on expecting things to happen just as the books tell us they should, we will be sorely disappointed. It is really as unrealistic as expecting to see two snowflakes that are alike. There is no such thing!
Our youngest child was an unusually fussy baby. He would cry at the drop of a hat, and once he started, it was difficult to get him to stop. It would take him for what seemed like forever to nurse, so that by the time he was done, it was almost time to start all over again. I tried to pump, but he couldn't physically suck from a bottle. There was no solid sleep schedule. We all welcomed sleep when we could! He never crawled, and every milestone came much later than average. When he did start to walk, his feet pronated inward, causing him to walk on the insides of his feet. He needed orthotics for years to give him additional support. Things seemed to be looking very different from what I had come to expect and from what I experienced with my other two children.
The path for his educational journey seemed to be as unique as the rest. We did the "preschool thing" for half of a year, but discovered that they were unequipped and unprepared to manage his unpredictable outbursts and behavior. We tried homeschooling, but couldn't seem to complete a full school year. After three years of schooling at home, he finally got more than half way through the First Grade curriculum. At the end of his 2nd Grade year, and what we felt like was the end of our rope, we finally decided to start looking for some answers. That is where we found the beginning of a BEAUTIFUL journey; a journey carved out only for him. I quickly found, though that this journey was difficult to plan for. I couldn't script it out and I had no idea what was coming next. Nothing really has gone as planned, but I'm ok with that! I have learned that when we try to compare where we are to where we "think" we should be, it only leaves us standing with disappointment and a feeling of failure. We are taking it year by year, month by month, day by day. We are learning and navigating together...moving along at a pace just right for him.
I write this to encourage you, moms and dads. Your child's journey, is unique....WILDLY beautiful.... sometimes mysterious, but OH SO REWARDING! Celebrate each moment in its individuality. Champion on as the advocate for your child, leaning into the advice of wise council and experience, but being ok with it not turning out just like it looks like on paper. At the end of the day, it'll be a glorious unfolding of a story that belongs to only your child. A story that you're walking out together. Keep on keepin' on, my friend. YOU. ARE. AMAZING!
