When a Mole Hill Becomes a Glorious Mountain

I've been getting feedback from friends and family and they are all finding this blog to be so helpful. I'm really loving what this blog is not only doing for others, but also doing for me. I find myself even MORE excited to cook and eat, even more excited to try new things...It's like my brain is totally wired for excitement.

I took a trip with my mother-in-law today out to my son's doctor's appointment to meet with an orthopedist. Wait, lemme back up a second, rewind to yesterday...

Every Thursday my son and I attend a gross and fine motor class to help him with his development. I was SO discouraged because neither myself or Little Man's physical therapist could get him to walk with his walker, or even at all. He'd scooch along couches because of the support, but with a walker or anything of the like, it was a no-way-jose. Thursday morning rolls around and I almost didn't go to motor class, making up excuses and blowing his little cough up way bigger than it was. But, I made a promise to go to this motor class and Little Man ALWAYS has a great time, and I ALWAYS feel like a great mom after taking him. It's not just a workout for him either...I'm huffing and puffing because I'm having to lift him and move him to get him to try to walk and romp around. So...we go "play!"

Upon arriving at the motor class, Little Man is STOKED. He can't get out of my arms fast enough! Off he goes a crawling, and there I see it...a BEAUTIFUL gold and red "carrrr" (or walker, when not speaking Little Man's language) and I snag it. I take it over to Little Man to have him try it out. What would you have it? He LOVED it. He loved it so much, that...

He walked.

He walked all throughout the motor class and didn't stop with the walking even after we got home. I put him down for a nap and when my husband got home, we pulled the walker out and Little Man was SO excited to show Daddy what he could do. And it didn't stop there...Little Man wanted EVERYONE'S attention to show them what he could do.

Fast forward to this morning. We were actually meeting with an orthopedist this morning to discuss options for bracing because Little Man was not and would not willingly stand, nor would we walk with his previous walker. So going in to the appointment today, I kinda felt like Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle Dum I should definitely be twiddling my thumbs...You know? The orthopedist gave us GREAT news that there is absolutely NO need for bracing at this time, as Little Man has so much muscle tone and just looks awesome. And now that he's finally walking, there is only strength and stamina to come.

My friends, walking is just a molehill to most of us. To my Little Man, it was a mountain. I KNEW he was capable and I think he knew too...it was just a mole hill of sorts...something he didn't want to climb. Once he was given a tool he loved, that changed everything. He walked from the parking lot ALL THE WAY to the doctors office, around a few times, and ALL THE WAY back down. By nap time, he was BEGGING for it. But, he did it. And he KNEW it was something to be proud of. Now, I'll ask him, "Do you want Mommy to carry you or do you want to walk?" "I talk"...Okay, off walking you go.

My friends, when you are given proper tools to support yourself, when you see something you want to accomplish, sometimes we DO have to rely on others to give us those tools. And that's okay. It may seem like a mole hill of a task to others, but a mountain to you. It's still OKAY. Though walking was a mole hill of sorts, it was a mountain to my son, and when he accomplished it...It's like he's standing atop Mt. Everest.

You can feel the same way too. You just have to face that mountain or face that mole hill and accept it for what it is. Find the tools you need or rely on others to help you...and conquer it.

If you need help with food...LET ME KNOW! I can HELP YOU! I WANT to help you. Admit the struggle, find support, and go forth conquering. I know you can do this. I know you can accomplish what you set out to do.

If you don't believe in yourself quite yet, lean on me, because I believe in you.

Learn from my son, and truly remember, it's one step at a time. Those steps get easier, until you know it, you're atop Mt. Everest.

"An optimist is someone who figures that taking a step backward after taking a step forward is NOT a disaster; it's more like a cha-cha"-anonymous

Friends, come dance with me...I've learned to Cha-Cha pretty well :)
Happy Walking,
Camille