On one of the Down syndrome list servs that I am on, there once was a discussion(many years back) about Disney characters and how there weren't any with disabilities. One of the parents piped up that she had always thought of Dopey as having Down syndrome. I didn't know whether to laugh or be offended. Everyone knows that Dopey couldn't have Down syndrome, his ears are way too big and he doesn't have the beautiful almond-shaped eyes. Anyhow, living with a teenager going through puberty is like living with all seven of Snow White's dwarfs in one body.
Living through the experience has reinforced some things we've learned through years of life with Kellen:
Choose your battles carefully
Practice letting go
Work as a team with your partner
Other parents are the very best source of information and support
One of my friends who has two boys older than my son and daughter, once told me that when they enter puberty it is like your kids go into a big long tunnel and the only thing you can do is hope and pray while you wait for them to emerge out the other end. I think there is some truth to that. It certainly is a wild ride and parents can't control the outcome. We have just tried to set-up the environment as best we knew how to help support a safe ride to a beautiful, new destination.
p.s. I'm sure my son wishes he lived in the same house with these seven dwarfs:
Flexibility
Understanding
Creativity
Patience
Faith
Hope
Love
3 comments:
Jodi, thank you for all that you have written about Kellen and puberty. Your strategies are respectful, considerate and well-thought-out, it seems to me. I will let you know how they work on Vic, who is going to middle school in the fall.
Chris and Vic
Good Luck! Let me know how it goes. (buckle your seatbelt)
Jodi, I'd love to talk to you about reproducing some of your posts about puberty in our newsletter. They are wonderful. Can you email me at clare.hitchens@gmail.com? Thanks. Clare.
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