by Hayley Wentela
I have always found the phrase "as long as it's healthy" to be naive. Of course, parents hope to raise healthy children, and raising an unhealthy baby is not something that is desired. It is hard work, but it can certainly be done. I have seen so many mothers and fathers who do not have healthy babies, such as my aunt and uncle who have a 9-year-old son with cerebral palsy. Upon finding out that their baby would not be able to do all the fun things they had the opportunity to do as children (riding bikes, playing tag, monkey bars, etc.), they were heartbroken. They had fears for their son which they had never imagined. They had to reconsider their living situation, which at the time was a tiny apartment above a shop that had no elevator - only rickety stairs. They had to hire an in-home nurse for their son's first two years of life. But let me tell you, their lives are NOT over. More complicated? Yes! But I can assure you that there is no less love in that family or others like it. Likewise, there is no less life in a disabled or sick child, as seen in the following article by Theresa Raker.
In her article "What My Special Needs Child Taught Me," Raker wrote about the doubts she has had in raising her son Aaron, his many successes, and the of raising an exceptional child.
When we see or hear about a mother with a severely disabled child, we tend to feel sorry for her. We find ourselves wishing that the child would have just been "normal" for her sake. Generally when we think about the impact of disabilities on families, the impact we imagine is negative. Raker made me realize that we shouldn't think this way.
In her article "What My Special Needs Child Taught Me," Raker wrote about the doubts she has had in raising her son Aaron, his many successes, and the of raising an exceptional child.
When we see or hear about a mother with a severely disabled child, we tend to feel sorry for her. We find ourselves wishing that the child would have just been "normal" for her sake. Generally when we think about the impact of disabilities on families, the impact we imagine is negative. Raker made me realize that we shouldn't think this way.
"... just because things are different they aren't bad or unpleasant; they are just different.
And different can be an inspiration." -Theresa Raker