Crafting 101

I am not a crafty person, but I can be crafty-ish. I  have my moments. Inspired by the gazillion flower bows and headbands tutorials floating all over Pinterest, I've been making lots of hairbows for my little girl. But this one is my hands down fave.

Nothing is cuter than an oversized flower on a dainty little face. Except perhaps an even bigger flower will do the trick, eh?

The Little Dumpling's Story

This is kinda personal.
Really personal.
I guess writing it down, or at least its attempt will provide a release of sort.
Maybe it would be a testament to my healing.

My little dumpling is special...
That's one way to sum it up so almost everybody will understand.
Our family has known for quite some time now.
We have been in and out of nursery schools, special ed schools,
We have worked closely, and have grown to love our doctor, therapists, and teachers..
We have been on that emotional rollercoaster that goes hand in hand with learning that
your child is different.

My little dumpling is special.
And we struggled with it, lived through it.
We tried to be stubborn about it.
We screamed, and cried, and fought,
and cried some more,
We prayed, and loved, and found joy in little triumphs...
But mostly, we cried.. a lot.

It's hard to accept that your child will not have as easy a life as the one you've had.
That he might need to give so much more of himself, and work harder, be better
Just to get the same opportunities given to the next kid in line
It's hard. It breaks your heart...
It surely broke mine.
But it needed to be put back together ASAP if I am to help my little dumpling at all.
So my heartaches, and the tears, they all had to be put aside.
I need acceptance if I want my child to live with what he's given, and not be defined by it.
I allow myself a few moments to cry... mostly at night when he's asleep
And then I welcome the morning with dry eyes and an eager smile.

I try to do my best every day, but I still have a lot to learn.
Mistakes to make.
Heartbreaks to endure.

As a mother..
As his mother,
All I want is for him to see the world NOT as a cruel and judgmental place where people who are different can never find happiness.
All I want, all I wish for... is that I leave this world knowing that I have shown him love and trust and peace and bliss, so much so that he would not be afraid to explore the world on his own.

My little dumpling is special.
He is also smart.
He is quick to love.
He is happy.
He does not hold grudges.
He is a big heart.
And finding out that he is not like other kids did nothing to change how much I love my boy.

His therapists and doctor believe he may be ready for a regular preschool.
Last week he came home from his last day at special ed school.
It feels like a lifetime ago, when i first handed him over to his new teacher,
and now that chapter's closing and we're starting a new one.
I am not deluding myself into thinking that the worst is over,
that from here, everything else will be an uphill climb.
But I am allowing myself to celebrate this little triumph.
At least today, things are starting to look up.
And I couldn't be more proud