Spring

Come spring, we’ve accepted our caregiver role and are finding our groove in this new season. We instill rhythms and routines as we emerge from despair and discover joy again, recognizing that our situation is different but not less than.

Life becomes more manageable, and buds blossom as we celebrate growth, milestones, and the wins we accomplished. Therapies or treatments become normal, and we even carve out some cherished time for ourselves in the middle of the chaos.

One spring afternoon, we brought Lucas to a respite program for individuals with disabilities. The plan (don’t we love the plans we make!) was to enjoy a few hours of fun with our other kids. The program was a forty-five-minute drive, and as we drove, the kids became restless, leading to arguing and bickering and Lucas stimming and screaming. And so, I did what any mom would do and had a come-to-Jesus moment.

I informed my children that I would not reward bad behavior. I told them if I didn’t see improvement by the time we arrived, we would cancel all the fun (and then I desperately prayed that they would pull it together so that we wouldn’t have to actually cancel the fun).

One smart-alecky child decided to push their luck and got snarky. I replied with “the look” and the question, “Are you seriously back talking right now? I believe the response you’re after is, ‘Yes, Mom.’”

Then Lucas, who had been quiet during my impassioned speech, yelled, “Yes, Mom!”

I cried joyfully because that was the first time my boy had ever called me “Mom.”

It’s easy to get so caught up in the difficulties of life that we forget to appreciate the beauty. What small victories can you be thankful for today?