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Going for Gold!
1
I could just post a picture of this badge & say we’re so proud of her getting her 100m swimming badge but that would not reflect the work that it took to get it. When you have a child with a disability/additional needs milestones are not guaranteed. This swimming badge was not a given. In fact you could say it has taken her whole life to get it.
We had to make lots of decisions when she was born but the most important decision we made was that we would tell her repeatedly that she could do anything…if she worked hard.
It has taken determination
We had to make lots of decisions when she was born but the most important decision we made was that we would tell her repeatedly that she could do anything…if she worked hard.
It has taken determination
SelfishMother.com
2
on our part to see this through, so that when she was a toddler with a walking frame & begging to be carried we had to make that decision to say no and force her on a few more steps, even when other people thought we should just lift her. We kept pushing until her muscles were so strong on the top of her legs that they cancelled out the lack of feeling below her knees.
There would of course be no badge without making the decision to force her into the pool even when she was afraid. No badge without the decision to fight for wonderful
There would of course be no badge without making the decision to force her into the pool even when she was afraid. No badge without the decision to fight for wonderful
SelfishMother.com
3
physiotherapists and hydrotherapy.
And mostly I think no badge without us and our families and friends constantly reaffirming that she can do anything but it will mean hard work from her. No badge without her determination.
The thing with having a child with a disability is that you sometimes can’t make allowances for them, you have to be strong enough to tell them to just get on with it. You have to play the long game. You have to be steadfast in your decisions and sometimes that means being ’cruel to be kind’. It’s like ’normal’ parenting I
And mostly I think no badge without us and our families and friends constantly reaffirming that she can do anything but it will mean hard work from her. No badge without her determination.
The thing with having a child with a disability is that you sometimes can’t make allowances for them, you have to be strong enough to tell them to just get on with it. You have to play the long game. You have to be steadfast in your decisions and sometimes that means being ’cruel to be kind’. It’s like ’normal’ parenting I
SelfishMother.com
4
suppose but with higher stakes. You know that life is harder for disabled people so you have to make your disabled child more resilient.
She has been able to swim 100m for a long time but always needed a few short pauses and could have got her badge, but it felt wrong. We waited and worked hard and here it is, 100m with no stops. For the 9 year old with hip displasia, dodgy knee caps, reduced sensation below her knees and a curvy spine, this badge is gold.
Do something.No excuses.
She has been able to swim 100m for a long time but always needed a few short pauses and could have got her badge, but it felt wrong. We waited and worked hard and here it is, 100m with no stops. For the 9 year old with hip displasia, dodgy knee caps, reduced sensation below her knees and a curvy spine, this badge is gold.
Do something.No excuses.
SelfishMother.com
