The meat and potatoes.

BLERG.  I have a million thoughts running through my mind that I'd like to get down and I can't quite get them organized or decide if they should be all in one place (wonder if I can make a Pinterest board for that....).

I mentioned before that I hadn't picked up my camera in way too long. Of course, that doesn't mean I haven't been taking pictures. It means I've been taking advantage of the easy breezy beautiful cellphone that is always within reach, even if it means fuzzy photos of fuzzy moments. I have a feeling I'm not alone. But things they are a'changin.

This whole social media, texting while driving/walking/watching, on demand, paparazzi (papa...paparazzi) world is driving me nuts right now. Instant gratification and we ALL fall prey.

Don't get me wrong, obviously there are some huge benefits and conveniences because of it. For example, FB is the reason our experience adopting Anna Gray spread like wildfire. And because it did, just a teeny-tiny corner of the world might be more aware of our life which just happens to include adoption and DS and ASD and ADHD and OT and PT and IEPs and OCD (Nathan says he's going to join AA just so he can have acronyms like everyone else in this house).

Sometimes I get so wrapped up in trying to tell you about those things, I forget to tell you about the other stuff ... and sometimes, it's the other way around.

I put down the silly stories and kid-anecdotes and the precious pictures because I'm a mom. I want to save the moments and I want to brag on my kids. It's what we do. That's the meat and potatoes of life.  Or eggplant in our house, as I no longer eat/cook meat. Anyway, I could (and used to) just share that. Over time, I've come to realize that I have a responsibility to "educate". Partly because I'm a mom to children with special needs and partly because I believe it's the right thing to do.
I do the easy stuff pretty well.

Spread the word to end the the 'R' word.
If you know one child with autism, you know ONE child with autism.
Down Syndrome is what I have, not who I am.



Etcetera. Those things are important. Really important. That's why they're on tshirts and posters. They matter. But I'm seeing that I'm doing a disservice to my kids, to other kids, and to society in general by only telling part of the story, at least only part of OUR story. I hold back because... I don't know why. I'm worried about what people will think? I'm worried it will scare someone off of adoption or kids that aren't typical? I might say something someone out there doesn't like? 

I made a spirit-led decision to give up "negative words" for Lent. At least that's what I called them.
Already, I'm learning that there is a BIG difference in negative words and hard words. That's probably pretty obvious to most, but it's an eye-opener for me. It's okay for me to say that my broken collarbone hurts. It's okay for me to say it's tough when your non-verbal child cries all day and you don't know why.

It's harder... BUT OKAY... to say that Anna Gray fell down the stairs while on my watch. It's harder... BUT OKAY... to say that my twins are really very sad and angry about their adoption and I don't know how to help them.

I don't know why I leave that stuff out.
We do the best we can.We all do.

So, I'll share. Fuzzy photos or not.
I might tell you I'm having a bad day. I might tell you it's hard.
Not because I want your sympathy. Not because I owe anyone anything.
Just because we should be working together to become better people and because someone might have been there, done that and offer some ingenious insight that I'm too distressed to come up with myself.

Let's work together, people.
Let's talk. Let's listen. Let's share. Let's relate. Let's pray. Let's lift each other up. Let's fight for the right to party.

World peace.

And yes, clearly there was incident(s) that inspired this little soapbox moment. I'll share more... starting tomorrow. Moving on :)