Harrison and Sydney Copher. I am proud to be their mother. They have taught me so much. Some days I just stare at them in awe and think. Look at God! WE did that. Then I have peace in my heart that they will do well in the future.
That nice warm and fuzzy feeling disappears when someone comments on Sydney’s future. Will she live in a group room? Will she live with me forever? And of course will she work in the grocery store and bag groceries?
Harrison and Sydney both have their own interests. They will make the ultimate decision as to what path they will take. I blog and advocate for autism and special needs families because of statements like the ones that I mentioned earlier. What right does a person have to ask me a question like that? All people with disabilities don’t work in the grocery store. I think that is worse than the Rain Man stereotype, that people assume when I tell them that Sydney has autism.
Sydney has an eye for flowers and making beautiful bouquets. Syd loves to take pictures and create videos. Lately she wants to take a picture of the sunset on her iPad. A few days ago when it rained. She came to find me so we could go outside and take a picture of the double rainbow.
Sydney is a great reader and good with the technology. She’s organized and proactive. She might work for the CIA, who knows. Cooking is what helped Sydney communicate with us when she was seven years old. We would turn cracking eggs into a math lesson.
I use any opportunity to expose Syd to new things, and push her out of her comfort zone. Harrison Copher will change the world and Sydney will be next to him. For Sydney, the road will be tougher as she fights for acceptance. Sydney, you can be a model, a famous lute player or a boxer in the Olympics. Dream Big Princess Sydney. This is just the beginning for you.
My dear friend Robert, not my ex husband, shared his favorite quote with me yesterday and it was a great reminder for me.
Don’t tell me the sky’s the limit, when there are footprints on the moon!
A Woman's Work - Brooke Basically Blogging 