The McClintic Family
Est. 2010
  • Home
    • Click for recent site updates
  • Book
  • Blog
  • Media
    • Changing the Face of Beauty
    • Professional Documentary
    • Talk Tools Voice
    • Angel Eyes
    • My Lucky Number 21
    • Life Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness
    • Spirit of the Season
    • Promoting Acceptance
    • Cutie with Down Syndrome
    • Bets Against Her Doctors
    • My New Lucky Number
    • Talk Tools
    • Pop Pop has no need to worry
    • On March 21st
    • Home Videos
  • Photos
    • Growing
    • Pregnancy
    • Birth
    • First Birthday
    • Second Birthday
    • Fourth Birthday
    • Baptism
    • 3/21 Down Syndrome Day
    • Making of Movie
    • Springtime 2012
    • First Surgery
    • First Vacation
    • Fall 2012
    • Dolls for Downs
    • Gymnastics
    • Summer 2013
    • Preschool Intro
    • Fall 2014
    • Christmas 2014/5th Birthday
    • National DS Day 2015
    • Easter 2015
    • Changing the Face of Beauty
    • Princesses 2015
    • 4th of July 2015
    • Kindergarten Intro 2015
    • Photo Shoots
  • Medical Updates
  • Jamie's Desk
    • New Mommy
    • Letter to Maddox
    • Disabilities
    • Inspiration
    • Book Preview - Grieving the Gift
  • Guest Book

You've come a long way baby!

2/8/2014

1 Comment

 

Maddox started preschool this past fall and I was every bit as anxious as her.  I wondered if she would fit in, if the bus drivers would keep her safe, or if she would make friends?


But most importantly I needed to know, would she learn?


We are four years into this journey and still we don't take a break with her therapies.  Some days they are done by her therapists and teachers but the majority of the time, they are done by Scott and I.  Never did I imagine that we would put this much effort into parenting, but it's the moments like these that makes it all worth it. While my friends were with their children this morning at dance class, the bounce house, the puppet show, etc... we were working on homework.  Yes, after all these years there still lingers a smidgen of jealousy at the fact that those parents can actually take a small breather.  


What I mean is those who have walked closely in our shoes truly understand the value of each ticking moment in a day as we attempt to pack in every opportunity for learning.  Not just teaching, that's the easy part, that part happens naturally with "normal" children.  


When working with special needs children, it's the variety of ways, the multitude of trial and error, waiting for the response, the light, and some very tiny indication that what you did actually worked.  That is the exhausting part.  The part I was not prepared for.


Without further ado, after many hours of practice, many different techniques, Maddox's light switch FINALLY flipped on this morning -- and I was one proud mommy. 


With every leap forward comes two steps backwards. Now that this is one more accomplishment we can nix off the developmental milestone list, we unfortunately can't just sit back and rejoice at it's mastery. We hit the repeat button while simultaneously tackeling the next item that we must tediously analyze and teach.

I guess today, I wanted to share the great news with you, but also share what goes through our minds as we celebrate one small step for Maddox, and one giant leap for Down Syndrome.  

1 Comment

    Why blog?

    These are personal realtime reflections that we have opted to share openly and honestly so you and others can learn about our journey.

    Click on January 2010 below to read Maddox's birth story and view photo's of her birth-day.

    Archives

    November 2021
    September 2015
    August 2015
    May 2015
    February 2015
    June 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    December 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    February 2012
    January 2012
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    May 2009
    April 2009

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.