Today was my daughters’ walkathon at school and I left the
experience in a different state. I realized sometimes
we gain a deeper understanding by watching our kids from the outside instead of
always being on the inside. That happened
to me today. I watched my daughter at
her school’s walkathon have a meltdown due to the overstimulation of kids
running around her. And as I watched her
struggle, I didn’t have my usual sense of overwhelm, or thinking I had poor parenting skills, or frustrated. I felt empathy and
compassion. As I looked around at all
the kids in her school – having fun and running around, I realized that this is what she must go
through everyday at some point in her day.
I felt her internal struggle she probably deals with daily and yet she
goes to school everyday with a sense of determination and surrender to
this. And it reminded me of her
resilience and determination.
It made me have a deeper understanding for her struggles,
that I often forget, because my love for her is so full, in my eyes she is
perfect. I forget she has speech, fine
and gross motor delays. I forget she has
a sensory disorder and how all these things must be challenging to deal with in
different situations and in daily life for her. I am gifted with a daughter, who I get to witness,
that despite all of her challenges, she lives life to the fullest. This fills me with compassion, empathy, love and a deeper understanding of not just
her but everyone else who has some kind of struggle(s) everyday in their lives
and yet have found ways to live life to the fullest.
On a day like today, I realize my daughter teaches me the important things in
life and I am filled with gratitude. My
daughter is my teacher of enlightenment.
And today I am especially proud to be called her mom.
