What I learned today. I figure this year is going to be a year of lessons with a 2 year old who wants to be a 2 year old and a mom of a 2 year old with OI. This morning we went to our 1st play date with one of my dear friends from Tulsa who recently moved here. She is in a play group and invited me to join them at this fun place in Edmond where you can paint, play with playdoh, stamp art, pretty much anything creative. Of course, in the room next door was any toddlers dream of a huge playset, sandbox, slides, pirate ship, everything that they would want to play with, but everything a mom of an OI child dreads.
Caroline had her walker but she is also walking independently a lot, so there is not one second I can turn my head. Caroline wanted to do everything that the other kids are doing. So imagine me, holding our sweet Robert who wants to be with his mom 100% of the time, and Caroline climbing stairs trying to be just like the big kids. I was so proud of her, but literally held my breath as every kid came up to her. They wanted to know why she had a walker, why she walked funny, why she needed my help to go up the stairs. Questions that I would expect from children. Questions that I could answer. She uses a walker to help her walk, she walks a little funny because she is learning how to walk, and she needs my help because I don't want her to fall and get an owie. Kids get it, moved on. Kids just don't care at this age, they just move on. Thank goodness.
Then there are some parents. "Brittle bone disease? What does that mean"? Me: "Her bones are brittle, they can break easily". /BLANK STARE/
I also see the moms that are staring at Caroline and I, walking hand in hand, and whispering about how she is walking. Probably saying to themselves, "thank God that's not my child" or "That poor mom she has her hands full" And to those moms I say, "SCREW YOU". At least my child isn't throwing sand at some sweet innocent child! At least my child is not hitting someone! At least my child says, thank you and no thank you! (These were not the play date moms, ps!)
For the love of Gosh. I know this is something that I will always have to deal with, and I promise I will try to get better with it. But unfortunately, I can have a major sarcastic attitude sometimes and I am worried about what I could say to a mom one day when I am at my breaking point! Hopefully, I will have one of my friends with me that can pull me back.
I absolutely cannot wait to take Caroline on her next play date. I know she will have a blast and I know that I will not take that opportunity from her. I will try to take her to everything I can. She deserves to be just like every other 2 year old out there. And I promise I will work on my sarcasm!
On another note, my 5 month old is teething! How is this possible? How did he grow up so quickly? He is also getting on all 4's and crawling backwards! CALGOOOOONNNNNN!!!!!!!
Love to all!
