I am working on sharing more. Especially the inch stones that we totally live for. Being a mom to a child with unique needs has taught me so much about how to not take anything for granted. I hope that I can help you also see the beauty in the small things. I hope I can help you to also not take things for granted. I hope I can show you the beauty of our life. I hope you can see God’s faithful hand in any circumstance.
I am writing tonight because, in the midst of my mind spiraling to a place it didn’t need to go, God brought me back to the here and now in the best way possible. I am writing tonight because I had the most amazing thing happen, and I do not want to ever for one second forget this moment. I am writing for a reminder to myself, but also to share with you, again, how amazing God is.
Tonight I am feeling extra tired, and I was dwelling in all that I need to do tomorrow. While I am so thankful and relieved from the news of Rhett’s scopes, I was worrying about how busy tomorrow is going to be with therapy, a well check appointment for Brooks, and an audiology mapping for Rhett. I was thinking about how Rhett starts school on Monday in person with a ton of virtual therapies mixed in thanks to COVID. I also start work Monday, and I was starting to feel in over my head. I was in a moment of stress over Rhett’s communication and how I can help him learn speech. Am I talking enough? Am I doing his therapy enough? To be honest, I have been having a hard time on the best approach to take with Rhett. We chose the cochlear implants because that is truly what is best for Rhett’s sensory development, but that doesn’t mean I need to try to force speech. All of this realization came to me in one simple sign. The sweetest phrase I have waited my entire motherhood journey to “hear” or see. For the first time, Rhett responded “I love you” back in sign language when I said and signed it to him.
I have never doubted that Rhett loves me. He constantly shows it in his own unique way. But seeing that sweet little sign just brought me back to reality and to what really matters. Rhett is amazing. I don’t need to try to change him to fit what the world thinks he needs to be. I need to change the world for him. At the end of the day, I want and need Rhett to communicate. Instead of putting my time and effort for a sound that honestly isn’t truly meaningful, I need to put that energy into enriching his sign vocabulary.
One sweet little sign was all I needed to remind me that Rhett is in charge. He takes the lead on his life, and I will follow that lead. Sign language is beautiful. If that is his choice for communication then I will do my best to become fluent in sign. Brooks is only a year old and is well on his way to being bilingual in ASL and English. I encourage you to learn some sign so that you have the ability to communicate with Rhett. I encourage you to help this world be a more accommodating place for those with disabilities.
Thank you, God, for the sweetest blessing tonight that brought me back to reality. Rhett, I will do my best to change the world for you.
mommyincharge 