And sometimes, it's all good!

Accidently or otherwise, we all have to have that ah-ha moment once in a while! Otherwise, we would not have the courage to keep  parenting, to keep journeying into the uncharted forests of our children's lives and minds and  walk with on the trek.

One of the things I work unceasingly on is being there for each other.  This is a concept that is harder for some of my children than others.  Some, by nature of their disability have trouble just understanding what that means.  Feelings are mysterious, frightening and sometimes even irrelevant to that child. He does try to be present, but it is sort of "by habit."  He learns that it is not acceptable to say "well you should not have done that" when a sibling falls down, but in a memorized data sort of way.  Empathy is hard for him.

Others of my children experienced such early trauma that they are afraid that there will not be someone looking out for them.  Even when years of constancy have shown otherwise, there is a kernel of doubt and fear.  When will I show that I too can not be trusted to keep them safe.

But tonight, while I did the dishes, I set the youngest ones  to making a turkey craft. Truthfully this was "Save My Sanity 101" as they both have colds and cranky is a bit of an understatement for their personalities at the moment!  But they really got into their craft and they became cards.  I suggested grandparents or godparents as the recipients.  Lissa chose to send hers to her nana, but KC said his was for Fiona.  He often makes a picture for her so that in itself is not surprising. But the message was:

Dear Fiona,
I made this card for you but we all love you and hope you and Jane and your whole school have a great Thanksgiving.  Love. . . .(all our family names were then written) PS  xxoo  Without conversation, he knew that we should have all our names on that card so that his sister will remember that we love her even when we are apart.