Straight to the Heart

One of the blogs I frequent wrote something the other day & I can't get it out of my head.

The process of making peace with his disability, was no clear-cut step-by-step denial-anger-bargaining-sadness-acceptance a-la Elizabeth Kubler Ross, but rather intense negative emotions separated by periods of equally intense joy and peace and love and contentment.


I have gone back to read this over & over. It seems to ring true for me. Even in counseling, I can't seem to get through the whole grieving process. Why? I think the reason is I am just now, even after 4 years, starting to really go through the process. The first few years were very intense, emotionally draining, hectic & scarry. I never really had time to think about what was going on. I was running from appointment to appointment trying to get her everything she needed. We still run alot, but she goes to school all morning. I now have time to breath & think.

Breathing = Good Thinking = Bad


My heart is starting to accept that she has some life long disabilities. Will she EVER be typical? No. Can I accept that? No. I still have so many negative emotions about the whole situation we have been dealt. I know all the things about the trip to Holland & God giving special children to special moms. Only problem is, a lot of the time, I don't feel so "special". I feel angry. I feel sad. I feel robbed. I feel cheated. I often feel "why me?".

BUT

Then there are the days when I feel like my heart is going to explode with pride. I don't think I could ever love a human being more than I love her. She makes my eyes well with happy tears when she jumps across the couch. She fills my heart with joy when she actually looks at me & says "Love you, Mama". On days when she now asks "Up- Mama carry you", I feel contentment. I know so many other Moms will never get the joy in celebrating each & every little thing in life. Other Moms will not ever get to see their little ones struggle from the day they were born and keep struggling every day to do all the "typical" things. In seeing this, it gives you the strength, courage & determination to go on & keep fighting to make her be the BEST she can BE. It is in this that I am starting to find my peace.

Thank you, Nelba, for your beautiful words. In your grief, I am finding more strength than you will ever know.