Parenting Toddlers

COLE IS OUR TODDLER OF THE WEEK!!

Child’s Name: Cole
Loves to: Throw balls and chase them/ walk & climb everywhere!
Hates to: Be out of Mommy’s sight for even a minute!!
Favorite toy: Little Tikes Basketball Goal
Best Toddler Tip From Mom: I finally moved my pots and pans to a higher cabinet and put Cole’s toys in the lower cabinets. Now I don’t have to worry about him pulling everything out onto the kitchen floor!

ANGELS WALK AMONG US

I’d like to introduce everyone to Morgan Kathleen Ownby. Morgan was not really a little girl, but actually a beautiful angel, given to this earth for only a short time to bring joy and happiness to all who had the pleasure of knowing her. I never had the privelege to meet Morgan face to face, but I kept up with her Mom (a high school friend of mine) and enjoyed regular photos and updates.
Over the course of four years, I developed an attachment to this angel. Every time I saw her photo, regardless of what was going on in my own life, a smile would jump to my face. A warmth would spread through my heart. Whatever worries I had weighing me down would suddenly lift and I’d feel this amazing sense of calm. Unfortunately, God can only loan us his truest angels for a short time, and Morgan returned to her heavenly home on January 30, 2006. I often wonder if she hung on to send her silent love and support (through angelic channels of course) to my own son, Alex, who arrived January 21, 2006 after a somewhat complicated delivery.

Morgan has a beautiful website dedicated to her life and her memory. It’s called Heaven’s Brightest Star, a fitting name for such a bright moment in time.

I recently met another angel who walks among us. His name is Ben, and like Morgan, he has a soul of pure light. Also like Morgan, the physical body he was given to use while walking among us has a few flaws. It is simply a testament to his true character that he is strong enough to handle physical issues that most of us could not. Ben has a website as well, called A Work of Art, where he shows off his artwork, and occasionally let’s his dad post a story or two.

Over the course of my life I have met many angels. From the kids I used to work with in high school in the STAR (Students Teaching Art Resources) program, to exceptional children I meet everyday at the park or in the grocery store. I am humbled every day by their innocent spirits, and forgiving souls.

And I am ashamed of the rest of us.

Too many times I’ve seen people turn away from these special kids, averting their eyes or moving as far away as possible. Or the other extreme, people who display shock or revulsion clearly on their face with no thought to feelings. I cannot imagine the inner battles the parents of these precious angels must fight on a daily basis. All I can do is help remind the rest of us that these children are not “contagious”, or “evil” or “creepy”. They are beautiful, strong-willed, precious kids who live every day simply to make this world a better place.

You may not have seen it on her face, but Morgan knew every time someone avoided eye contact with her or her Mom. Ben knows every time someone crosses to the other side of the grocery aisle, or the sidewalk to avoid “accidentally” touching him. Looking at it in the third person, how would this make YOU feel? Because these children are different would you wrongfully assume they don’t enjoy a friendly smile, or a simple hello? On the contrary, I think we should be doing everything in our power to show these amazing children what breathtaking respect we have for their beautiful, selfless spirits. Despite all the extra hardships they have endured, they are still babies, and kids, and teenagers. They still find comfort in love, touch, and simple friendliness.

One would think we could all be clear headed enough to recognize angels when we see them.

*Side note: I have written this post from the inner workings of my heart, and have not (as I probably should have) discussed speaking of Morgan or Ben with either of their parents beforehand. I hope they will forgive my rudeness in this, and take this post as it was meant to be taken … as a symbol of my utter and unfailing respect for their absolutely amazing kids.

angels, special needs children, Heaven’s Brightest Star