Platinum Author
When our daughter was born 5 years ago with Down syndrome, our Pediatrician informed my husband and I that our lives would change. At the time, I did not know exactly what he meant by that statement. Only now, after traveling through life these past 5 years with our Special Needs daughter am I beginning to understand.
Throughout these past 5 years, my husband and I have noticed the looks of sadness and pity on peoples faces at the grocery store when they notice our Special child. For 5 years we have noticed personally how the majority of people out in public view disabilities. Their stares, averting their eyes, and body language say it all. We have even had people who were obviously quite confused approach us and ask us why we were so happy since we had a child with Special Needs. What they see on the outside is a little girl who is different. What they don't see is the magic, the love, and the beauty that our little girl is bubbling over with on the inside.
Traveling through life with our Special Needs daughter has taught us so much that I could never change a thing if I had the chance to. She is who she is, and we are all better because of having her in our lives. She has taught us to see the good in everything, to enjoy the simple things, to dance and sing out loud and not worry about what other people think. She has inspired us to be the best that we can be, to try our hardest at everything we do, and to laugh at ourselves when we fall short.
I have learned how to meet people because of our daughter. She has never had a problem walking up to a total stranger and instantly becoming friends. She has in her own special way, turned our house into a home. I have learned how to eat extremely healthy, to grow a prolific organic garden in our back yard, grow healthy medicinal herbs in the house, how to cook healthy homemade meals on the road and in hotel rooms, how to safely travel near and far with our our family, how to manage our health through food and supplements, and how to relax and enjoy life.
Now when I am out in public and I see other families with special needs kids, I do not look away but make eye contact and smile. I do this because I know that although they struggle with their own difficulties, they are a family that understands true love, true joy, and true happiness. We are all traveling through this life together, and learning from each other. I thank God for the gifts and the wonderful people he has put in my life and wish all of the families who are caring for Special Needs kids a happy, joyful and beautiful life together.
About this Author
Linda Walsh is a mother of 3 young children - one with special needs and a forth child on the way. She is also a family travel expert who has developed a unique system for traveling with babies and young kids, budgeting money, cooking from scratch on the road, managing life with special needs, and living an organized lifestyle to get the most miles out of raising her family. If you would like to find more ways to simplify and organize your travels through life with your children, visit her website at http://www.familytravelgear.com or her blog at http://www.blog.familytravelgear.com.
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