What Would YOU Do?
I can try to explain what it’s like to raise a different-brained child until I’m red in the face and you’re red in the ear. But truly, you will never *get it* until you experience it. And that’s not an insult by any means. I’m simply stating a fact.
I’d like to share a moment that one of my favorite moms experienced. She shares this different-brained journey with me, and I didn’t even blink when this beautiful mama told me what happened one fine day. Because, of course, that’s what she had to do. #nobrainer
Her son had his ninety-day meds appointment scheduled for 11 a.m. She tried to get him to stay home from school for the day. He’s quite the rigid thinker, so he had to go to school, go to the appointment, and then return to school because that is just what was supposed to happen.
So Mama goes home after she drops her son off and she glances at the calendar. Gasp! She sees that the appointment is not at 11 a.m. It’s at 1:15 p.m.!
Her world shifts. She has to make quick decisions. What will work? How will this go? What can I do to help my son with this change of plans?
She decides to cancel the appointment, even though this will cost her over $100, *if* they charge her for the late cancelation. It’s just the price you have to pay. Then she realized she didn’t have lunch for him. That’s because they were going to get something to eat after the appointment. THAT WAS THE PLAN!
She makes another phone call to the school, asking if someone can get him some food. As fate would have it, the older grades were going on a field trip to a local restaurant. They could bring back his order: one hot dog, no bun, and as much ketchup as they’ll supply.
Perfect.
I’ve been on this journey long enough to know that most people would say, “Well, he’ll just have to go to the later appointment.” And I’m here to tell you that just isn’t how it works.
Are You in Trauma’s Way?
What we’re really doing is keeping ourselves out of trauma’s way. It’s us against trauma. Again and again. Day in and day out. That’s the constant.
I’ll say it again. You cannot imagine what it’s like to live this continuous game of chance, strategizing what will stop the next trauma, breakdown, tantrum.
With compassion,
Mica
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