π"I carry him.
I know it looks silly; his toes dangle past my knees. He’s getting tall and heavy, too. It sometimes hurts my back to lift his frame, but, I carry him.
It starts in the morning when waking up is hard. I should make him walk down the stairs, as it’s still something he is working on in physical therapy.
But with his sleepy eyes and tired heart, he doesn’t want to start off his day with a task.
So, I carry him.
He works hard to get off the school bus. One hand on the rail and down three large steps with care. He takes my hand and can’t wait to go inside to play. But, I make him go to the bathroom first. He doesn’t want to pause. I kneel down, give him a hug, and a reassuring word.
Then, I carry him.
At the end of the day, when we’ve worked on manners at the table and holding his utensils with the correct grasp, sometimes he is so done. And there is still the bathing, teeth brushing, and getting dressed to do. From the table and up the stairs we go.
Sometimes, I carry him.
The world moves fast and demands so much from all of us. I imagine with my son’s age and disability, it is often more exhausting. He’s directed and redirected, pushed and pulled throughout the day. There are times when he’s had enough. That’s when I carry his awkwardly long body against my own short one. Because sometimes, we all need someone to carry us to get us through the next hard thing, to love us through our good, bad, and weak moments.
When he’s reached his limit, I’m close to my own. But when I carry him, he somehow carries me, too."
#LoveWhatMatters
Credit: Jillian Benfield ... See MoreSee Less
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7 Days of Play
A writing tray is easily erasable, adaptable, reusable, and whole lot of fun! π Here’s what you need:
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A tray (aff link: amzn.to/3gyJVhi or amzn.to/3cQtgmc)
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A writing tool (we used a paint brush!)
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sensory base (we used rainbow rice, but sand, salt, sprinkles, and shaving cream are just a few of the many different sensory bases you could use). Read on below for how I made our rainbow rice!
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Alphabet cards (can be as simple as writing it down on paper. I printed letters from the computer and laminated them so we can reuse time and time again).I also created a little stand for the cards within the tray by taping two chopsticks together! π₯’
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HOW TO MAKE RAINBOW RICE
• 1 cup rice
• 1/2 tsp white vinegar or 1/2 tsp water
• Good squirt of liquid water color (aff. link: bit.ly/2znbnO0)
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(1) In a reusable container with a lid, add rice, vinegar (or water!), and food coloring
(2) Shake shake shake! Shake until the color spreads and colors the rice. If the color is not vibrant enough, now’s the time to add some more food coloring and shake some more!
(3) Spread your rice out on a plate or baking sheet to air dry. It could take up to an hour to dry. (Waiting is the trickiest part!)
(4)Rinse out the plastic container and repeat for desired colors! ... See MoreSee Less