Sigh. These past few months have been crazy around here. I know everyone says that, but we have had REAL crazyyyyy at the Smith house. Our life has been temporarily turned on it's side..it's temporary and not super serious, but enough to tip each of us over so that we have to force ourselves upright and find our balance again. We are still working on that, but it will come. Now, while I am trying to find MY balance, the world seems to be throwing sick children, urgent care visits, ,broken water heaters, broken AC units. flooded bathrooms, and ADT alarms that go off in the middle of the night trying to knock me down like I am involved in a huge game of dodge ball. I deal with the situations head on, but it has left me feeling exhausted, tired , cranky...not myself.
On Saturday I took my kids out to EZ's for some burgers and fun with their friends. While I am eating, I see this 9 year old boy and his mom out of the corner of my eye. I noticed him earlier. He was pointing at me and trying to pull himself out of his mother's grip. She released him and he ran right over to me and gave me a huge, tight, all of his heart, hug. "I'm Connor" was all he said. I hugged back equally as hard and laughed while I introduced myself. His mom apologized "I'm sorry. He has autism". I said "Don't worry about it. I thought maybe...I have taught children with autism". She laughed "He could probably tell, he does not usually run up and hug strangers. He could tell you were a good person".
No. I don't think that's what it was. I think he could tell that I was hurting a little bit. I think he could tell that I was a person who needed a hug. In all the time I have been involved with children with 'disabilities', I feel like they have other abilities that we don't have...not like superhero abilities, but the ability to look past all the b.s. and the drama to really see into the hearts of others. They may have areas where they struggle developmentally, but they are so much more evolved than the rest of us in the areas we need to grow in. The areas that really matter.
Here are some things I have learned about people with 'disabilities':
-They don't hide anything. If they like you, they will tell you. If they think you suck, you will know.
- They love with their whole heart.
-They hold nothing back...they laugh when they want, cry when they want, dance and sing when they want.
- They are 100% true to themselves...unique individuals not worrying about changing to please others...not trying to fit into some mold.
-You will have a friend for life
If people could look past the behaviors that make them different from everyone else, they would find beautiful, funny, genuine, amazing, honest, quirky, creative, and loving people. People we could all learn from. People who want to hug a sad stranger. People who leave me striving to be more like them.
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