Have you seen the new show Push Girls? It’s a reality series about four women who, by accident or illness, have been paralyzed from the neck or the waist down. It premiered June 4 on the Sundance Channel. I watched the first episode and had mixed feelings about it. The subject matter was definitely of the adult variety, and I wish they were featuring people who have had a disability for all, or at least most, of their lives. However, I’m happy that they are featuring real people with disability (period) and showing how much of their lives is pretty ordinary (well, ordinary for single women in LA, which is nothing like my life, but whatever…) Have you seen it? What did you think?
Nathan’s first two weeks of “school” have been super! Mostly because that’s Eight. Whole. Hours. per week that I get to not worry about him destroying the TV remote, ransacking the pantry, scaling the stove, or biting the dog – but also because I think it’s good for him to be around other kids. His teacher has been super, as well – I brought in a baby sign language cheat sheet for her on Tuesday (“just in case she wanted to use it”) and when I picked him up four hours later she was signing with him. I’m not sure when she found the time to look at the sheet in a room with all toddler boys, but I love that she did it.
A family in Pittsburgh has created a bucket list for their 21-month old son with Down syndrome. You read that right – he’s 21 months old, not 21 years. The story is inspiring, heartbreaking, and in some ways a little bit disturbing. I’ll let you read the story and watch the video yourself so you can tell me what you think.
Another installment from Bizarro World: sometimes I want to get rid of Sarah Kate’s disability hangtag so that people won’t think it’s for Nathan. Am I a freak or what? Obviously, I don’t think people think that he needs it right now, and let’s be honest – he’s unlikely to EVER need it at the rate he’s going. But since she’s starting to “blend in” more in terms of her gait I wonder sometimes if, as they both get older, people will assume it’s for him because he has Down syndrome. Which is kinda ridiculous. And of course she may not be blending in as much as I think she is.
I started praying the Miraculous Medal novena this week. Bringing the Sunshine isn’t a faith blog, so I don’t emphasize faith a lot here, but it is a big part of our lives. It dawned on me one day last week that the Virgin Mary and I have a lot in common. Okay, maybe that’s not true. In fact, if you remove that whole “we’re both women and mothers” thing we probably have like, only one thing in common. But that one thing is kinda big – we both knew when our sons were born that they were destined to be mocked and misunderstood. I decided to look for a novena (that’s a prayer you say for nine days, for those who don’t know) to Mary and that’s the one I landed on.
The last time I prayed a novena was right before Sarah Kate’s selective dorsal rhizotomy surgery over six years ago. During the nine days, I prayed for God to heal her. He didn’t, of course, but she has made tremendous progress since then – more than I thought was possible. Interestingly, today over lunch she told me she is glad that she has CP. I’m pretty sure God answered that prayer exactly the way I needed him to.
Speaking of faith, at Thursday’s night swim meet I was watching Sarah Kate from across the pool just before her heat and saw her cross herself. I asked her about it later and she told me that she said a little prayer before her event. Sometimes I wonder if any of this “faith stuff” is making an impression, and apparently it is.
In a similar vein, Nathan has started folding his hands together during prayer at home and at Mass. He doesn’t close his eyes, but he does stay quiet, so I call that progress. I’ve been secretly hoping that God grades on a curve during the toddler years, so it only stands to reason that I would hope for extra credit if I can manage to convert the weekly Mass Beatdown into a time of prayer for said toddler boy.
I have a giveaway coming next week! I’m not going to give you anymore hints for now, but I WILL say that not only was I excited about the items I was sent to review, but Mr. Andi was kinda pumped, too. If you have a young one, or know a young one, or know someone who has a young one, be sure to come back next week for the goodies!
Have a great weekend!
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This post is also linked to Conversion Diary‘s 7 Quick Takes.
I watched the first hour of Push Girls and I really liked it. I’m so impressed with how these women live their lives. “Yeah, I’m in a wheelchair. So what?” And sure, they have struggles, but who doesn’t? (Also, I was highly impressed at how they get their chairs out of their cars by themselves. I always wondered how people did that!)
Me, too, Megan!
We have a handicapped hang tag on one of our cars for me and my cane/walker. We use it only when I feel unstable and we can’t get a parking place close enough for me to walk with any steadiness. Perhaps you could use your hang tag selectively, putting it in the glove box when it was not needed. That might appeal to Sarah Kate’s growing independence and remove the onus from Nathan.
I already don’t keep it up most of the time – I never have, even back in the days when she used the walker. I’m not sure that Sarah Kate even realizes what it is or why we have it. 🙂
We do have a hang tag for our kids with Down Syndrome. I didn’t and wouldn’t with just one child but when we had child #2 with Down Syndrome and I began to take them places by myself it has helped out. We rarely use it if my husband and I are together and have started using it less as they get older.
I think this is the warmest Quick Takes I have read yet, and such a beautiful family! No wonder you are such a proud Mama!
Mark L.
We’re kind of slackers when it comes to family prayer time, except right before dinner. Claire picked up on the hand folding right away, and now insists that her 3 month old sister fold her hands too.
We’re complete and total slackers, so don’t feel bad! But each day is a new day and we can try again to do better. 🙂