Terri, that is hard. I have heard you share about this before on the RTS list, but putting it all in one article really brings it home. I have nothing to say that will give advice or help; but I also felt that wasn't good enough reason to say nothing. We have to stand alongside each other when we get real about hardships that we carry. So please know that you have a friend (though far away in distance, close in heart) who is standing alongside you.
After pre-school “the term” changes… what once was a rosy cheeked toddler who is not potty trained becomes an incontinent child with medical reason for his padded bottom. Many a school staff complained it to be a distasteful chore… some even judged his parents with thoughts of inadequate parenting skills. No one but us was aware of the never ending stream of funds spent on cute undies, pull-ups, doctor’s appointments, and even bribery as a last resort; not to mention the hours logged in potty time. But we got there, much thicker skinned than we started out, and literal pros in maintaining our child’s dignity; the time from the birth of his elder sister to his and his three baby brother’s years in “diapers” totaling fifteen years. Today we make a bi-weekly contribution to Proctor and Gamble for products to help keep his bed dry. We have had weeks, sometimes months when this was not an issue, and yet we still have not triumphed over bed wetting. I still have hope…
With Sam still being fairly young, I am still agonising about the more obvious delays like walking, talking, etc and they're already hitting pretty hard at the moment. Can't even work my mind around the rest right now, but have no doubt it is going to get much harder before it gets better (presuming that better is actually an option). But your courage and openess to blog about it will make it easier for me to deal with when we get there, knowing that my despair is not unique. Fingers crossed for that package-free day!
4 comments:
Terri, that is hard. I have heard you share about this before on the RTS list, but putting it all in one article really brings it home. I have nothing to say that will give advice or help; but I also felt that wasn't good enough reason to say nothing. We have to stand alongside each other when we get real about hardships that we carry. So please know that you have a friend (though far away in distance, close in heart) who is standing alongside you.
After pre-school “the term” changes… what once was a rosy cheeked toddler who is not potty trained becomes an incontinent child with medical reason for his padded bottom. Many a school staff complained it to be a distasteful chore… some even judged his parents with thoughts of inadequate parenting skills. No one but us was aware of the never ending stream of funds spent on cute undies, pull-ups, doctor’s appointments, and even bribery as a last resort; not to mention the hours logged in potty time. But we got there, much thicker skinned than we started out, and literal pros in maintaining our child’s dignity; the time from the birth of his elder sister to his and his three baby brother’s years in “diapers” totaling fifteen years. Today we make a bi-weekly contribution to Proctor and Gamble for products to help keep his bed dry. We have had weeks, sometimes months when this was not an issue, and yet we still have not triumphed over bed wetting. I still have hope…
With Sam still being fairly young, I am still agonising about the more obvious delays like walking, talking, etc and they're already hitting pretty hard at the moment. Can't even work my mind around the rest right now, but have no doubt it is going to get much harder before it gets better (presuming that better is actually an option). But your courage and openess to blog about it will make it easier for me to deal with when we get there, knowing that my despair is not unique. Fingers crossed for that package-free day!
I read your post and cried
Now I am reading all your hopeful parents posts
The "full of sugar" post had me sobbing
you are an amazing writer and mum
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