Tag Archives: friends

Marvelous Monday!

Oh my goodness… every Monday seems to catch me by surprise! Where does the weekend go?!

To begin, I am thankful for new friends. This weekend we had the pleasure of going to a new friend’s house for her son’s 5th birthday. When we got there, everyone recognized Addie right away (even the hubbies). It was amazing to watch people smile at her and not look to question. Addie’s hair was pulled back, which I love because it keeps her hair off her face, but it also showcases her larger head. I think she’s drop dead gorgeous- her golden brown wisps around her temples and her big blue eyes shining, but every so often someone mentions her large melon and it darn near drives me up a wall. However, when we walked in the door, there were oohs and ahhhs. It may seem normal for most parents to hear those sounds, but to this mama, those sounds are pure music to my ears. I am so blessed to have met this family, and have the opportunity to expand my blogging, fitness and personal relationships.

At the party <3

At the party ❤

Information about dwarfism you may not know… you cannot discriminate against someone simply because they have a form of dwarfism. I’ve been speaking with a wonderful woman who has run into numerous issues when trying to sign her child up for daycare, and being given the run-around as to why they cannot accept her family. When it all comes down to it, there are so many ways for someone to say no that this family has had to provide the accommodations, adaptive materials and planning guides to ensure their child’s safety, and still there is much hesitance due to the “condition” their child has. You may be thinking that’s illegal and call a lawyer, but please remember why my recent journey has been met with such resistance: the world is ignorant to the facts about dwarfism. The LP community is underrepresented, and it is apparent in the daily lives of many. I hope you continue to join me in raising dwarfism awareness!

… While I’m on the topic, I wanted to share my random of the week, brought to you by SNL.

You know when you hear a joke and everyone around you laughs, but you realize that their laughter stems from the idea of dehumanizing your fellow man? Yeah, I know what that’s like. I grew up in the era of dead baby jokes. My baby brother died shortly after birth, when I was 6. There was never a time that I thought these jokes were funny, nor did I understand why the idea of anyone dying or being dead was something to laugh about. I went to private school, so these kids were not under-supervised kids- they were mostly the opposite of such. Still, when I asked the kids to stop, they would continue, often asking what wasn’t funny about their joke.

THIS LINK  is just another example of what’s not funny, even when everyone around you seems to laugh. This is a skit of SNL’s Stefon & Myers, and while I understand how hysterical it is to force a human into acting as an inanimate object or one that can be forced to do something inhumane… oh wait, I don’t understand. It’s not funny. It’s kind of gross. I can only imagine how many people out there are laughing at the idea of making a LP act as their fanny pack, but why? Why is mocking another human, and treating them like an object humor? I ask all of you this week to reflect upon what is satire and what is downright wrong. Trade places with another group of people… say someone who is African American being used as a pack carrier, or someone with autism being made fun of this way. You might bite your tongue before you laugh, if you laugh at all. I asked my friend about this. I could hear his bitter smile through the phone as he said, “The ACLU would be all over SNL before the skit ended if the black man was used in a joke as a pack mule to clubbers.”

I’m not asking for much… just some respect for your fellow man or woman. I guess that wasn’t so “random” after all.

Silver Linings Playbook… not only does it feature my amazing Philly, the gorgeous GA grad Mr. Cooper and my angry-face muse, De Niro, but it shows the hard lives people battle everyday as a result of mental illness. While the end is pretty feel good, in terms of how real life happens, and how people (generally) have to gingerly handle their daily lives for the remainder of them- it is a movie I will be suggesting to everyone. Not everything is easy in this life- let’s bring some awareness and love. Respect, mindfulness, and tolerance to things we may not understand, but certainly have the ability to accept. I hope that random  is a bit more palatable for you. 🙂 Thank you for reading! I hope you have a beautiful week, Reader!

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Mystic

A day out!  …and what a day!

Addie and I went to the Mystic Aquarium to meet some new friends, and it was amazing.  Addie got loved on by some very adorable little ladies (babies are not an interest of the boys!)- and as she gets older, I know she’ll love playing with her new friends, while mommy got to talk to some parents who told me the truth: she’ll be fine!

The day started out rainy and gross, and I was nervous having just Addie with me. I feared the rain was an omen. I have to admit sometimes it’s hard to be a tattooed mom with less than $100 to your name and a hubby who is always at work. I feel like a stereotype. Like I provide everything Addie needs, but still seems like we’ll never be able to keep up with the Joneses- and why should we try? But there was not a judgement to be made- all that anyone saw was the precious little Addie. And later in the day the sun came out, reflecting how I felt on the inside (warm, not sweaty).

I finally got to talk to a mom I’d met online, and she showed me such a strong spirit- what she has watched her daughter go through could bring you to tears, but she smiles and offers nothing but the happiest and best words. And her little girl? If she doesn’t make you smile, you’re deaf- she will tell you everything you’ll ever need to know about life, without ever taking a breath: the world is good, and riding on the flume is the best part of any water park (when you meet the weight requirement, that is).  I also spoke with a couple that reminded me so much of Dave and me that I found myself blabbing away to them, wishing we lived closer and then calling Dave when I got in the car and bragging about how beautiful their girls are. Then there was the littest cutie, who couldn’t take her eyes off Addie- so much love coming from a 4 year old filled me with such warmth. There were stories of surgeries and sleep issues, advice about anesthesia and the first day of school, and the final word: breathe.

Best advice I got was from a dad who reminded me so much of my own- he loves his little girls and it shows! He told me that Addiewill do what all the other kids do, she’ll just do it in her own time.

There is no rush in life. I often lament that as I child all I wanted to do was grow up so I could do whatever I wanted… now all I want to do is throw on my goalie equipment and do two-a-days until school starts, and then get a pop-quiz day two. What happened to youth? It’s wasted on the young. As an adult mom, I plan on savoring everyday that I have with Addie and enjoying her milestones. Maybe she will walk at 12 months, and maybe not til 30. Who cares? She’ll walk, she will run and until then, she will smile each and everyday. I’ve spent my days since 1984 going from one thing to another, hurrying up to finish things that should have been savored and trying to be ahead of a game that isn’t a game. Life. You can’t really win something that you make up as you go along.

Addie rolls over, smiles at silly noises, holds her head up, pulls my hair and gabs away all night when her daddy gets home! She’s doing pretty darn well at her life… and she’s made our lives complete!

Thank you to all of the parents for answering all the questions I had, loving our beautiful Addie and sharing your experiences so openly.  I feel confident that we can and will have the best care, friends and love we could ever ask for for our Miss Adelaide.

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Filed under Achondroplasia, Community