Independent Spirit

Athena, a blogger I just met through the last Disability Blog Carnival, read through my archives and was inspired to write Kellen a poem. How cool is that?

For Kellen, by Athena on 4/12/08 at 11:37pm

Budding Independent Spirit

Living in a world filled with unexpected things

Your heart hums, and your soul sings

You march to the beat of your own drum

When you want to, you will come

To Wherever Mom, Dad, or sister have planned for you to go

Sometimes however, you say or act out “no”

I’m sure you can’t wait to do more things on your own

And say “I’ll get it, because I’ve learned and I’m grown”

Hotel Haiku

Waiting

The tide will change soon
My son will rise from his bed
World will be waiting

I Am Me

I am me.
I wonder what this means to you?
I hear you.
I see you.
I want you to hear me and see me, too.
I am me.

I pretend as little as I’m able.
I feel you know this about me, already?
I touch the soft hair of my little boys and I kiss the tops of their heads.
I worry they won’t know how much I love them.
I sadden to think others won’t love them as much as I do.
I am me.

I understand the world is a complex place.
I dream that some day, people will celebrate its differences.
I try to help make this happen.
I say, “See my life? It’s not so very different from yours, after all.”
I hope you hear me.
I am the voice of my son, until he has words of his own.

by Jennifer
Mom to Carter, Avery and Bennett

I Am a Single Mom of Three Toddlers

I am a single mom of three toddlers
I wonder why one of my twins has Down syndrome
I hear too many cries for my attention
I see the glass house we live in and I want to clean the windows
I want to live in a more tolerant and less judgmental world
I am a single mom of three toddlers

I pretend that we have more money than we do
I feel that the system doesn't hear me
I touch my sons back as he sleeps late in the morning because he rocks in his crib all night
I worry about what I'll do when puberty hits this house some day
I sadden when I think about the parents that walk out on their children and miss THIS
I am a single mom of three toddlers

I understand that my girls will probably leave me and their brother here someday
I dream that he will break his Down syndrome glass ceiling and walk out the door without looking back (except for holidays)
I try to focus on the here and now otherwise I feel uptight and mad that I have this to do alone
I say I am fine and so are my children
I hope my son and daughters feel fine and have less of their mother’s anxiety in life
I am a single mom of three toddlers

by Julie
Paige, William and Hannah's mom

I Am a Parent of a Child With Autism

I am a parent of a child with autism
I wonder what goes on in her brain
I hear her voice and it is music
I see her smile and my heart melts
I want her to be happy and healthy
I am a parent of a child with autism

I pretend that all is well
I feel the weight of care-giving
I touch her sweet face and know what perfection is
I worry what will happen after I am gone
I sadden when I think that we still have no answers
I am a parent of a child with autism

I understand that science is slow
I dream that she talks to me
I try to stay strong and positive
I say I love you all day long
I hope not another generation must bear this
I am a parent of a child with autism


by Lynn,
Carrie’s mom

I Am - Your Turn

I wrote an "I Am" poem yesterday. I thought other people might like the template to write their own. If you'd like to share it with me via email at: reimerreasonblog@aol.com, I will post them here. Feel free to include a photo of your child, family, pet (etc.) to go along with it.

Here is the template:

I AM (title)

I am (fill in the blank, same as the title) I am a soccer player....I am a grandfather...

I wonder

I hear

I see

I want

I am (same as the title)



I pretend

I feel

I touch

I worry

I sadden

I am (same as the title)



I understand

I dream

I try

I say

I hope

I am (same as the title)

I Am

I am the mother of a child with special needs.
I wonder about your future
I hear what you say to me...without words
I see your beauty
I want people to truly understand and accept
I am the mother of a child with special needs

I pretend I have everything together
I feel overwhelmed
I touch your soft cheeks
I worry that I am not enough
I sadden that I cannot make things better for you
I am the mother of a child with special needs

I understand what you don't say
I dream of an accepting world
I try so hard
I say things on your behalf
I hope you know just how much I love you
I am the mother of a child with special needs

If

If I try to help you get better, does that mean I don't accept you fully...just the way you are?
If I take you to therapy, does that mean you are not good enough?
If I try to teach you to be "socially acceptable," does that mean it's not okay to be you?
If I try to protect you from the world, does that mean I think you are not capable?

I just want you to know...
I accept you
You are good enough
It is okay to be you
You are capable
I love you

Say "Yes", Say "No"

One thing I know for sure...it is imperative that we learn to say "yes" and just as important that we learn to say "no".

Saying "yes" is about taking a risk
Seizing an opportunity
Optimism
Hope

Saying "no" is about setting a boundary
Taking care of yourself
Recognizing limitations
Empowerment

Today: Say "yes" and begin a new adventure
Say "no" and find a measure of peace

Audit Haiku's

Audit looms ahead
Ducks are lined up in a row
Will be over soon


Documentation
Vultures circle overhead
Seeking evidence

Boy of My Heart

This is a poem that meant a lot to me when Kellen was a baby.

Hail, handsome fellow, dear Boy of My Heart!
I've loved you each moment, right from the start.
How God ever found me, I will never know.
He sent you, sweet angel, from Heaven to grow
big from a little one into a great man--
to live life as your hero, I'll try hard as I can.
You now are so gentle, so soft and so small,
each day makes a memory...I treasure them all.
Sweet arms wrap around me, sweet hands hold mine tight,
I cherish your face from morning through night.
O darling, my boy, my hero, my son,
it is I who am learning from such a wise one.
Come snuggle your head in the curve of my neck
while I ask God to watch you, to keep and protect
my baby from harm, from shadows and fears,
for you are my sunshine, my joy through the years.
"I thank you God kindly for giving to me
this beautiful boy, I'm as blessed as can be."

by Deborah Lindsey O'Toole