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Sometimes . . .

burnt

Well-known member
. . . we need a perspective adjustment. I had one today.

Through our daughter's experience as a caregiver/physiotherapist through Community Care Access for the past several years, we have had the privilege of having some really beautiful little kids come into our home for an afternoon.

Of course, they are usually special needs kids - that is why our daughter sees them.

Today, I met for the first time a little girl who bears the cross of cerebral palsy, albeit in a milder form than some. This little girl was 1 lb. at birth and is still a small and frail looking 11 years old.

But the smile that she shares! It's like the autumn sun that breaks out from behind a dark cloud this time of year!

I asked her what she likes to do on such a dreary fall day, maybe go out and build a few mud castles? She looked at me, not sure how to take it.

After a few minutes she asked me "Are you serious about building mud castles?"

"Well", I said "would you like to go build a few because if you would like to, we could likely find lots of mud to build them with"?

She slowly replied "Yes, I think I would like to do that. I haven't built mud castles for a long time."

Well as it turned out, she wasn't dressed for playing in the mud today. Our daughter tactfully suggested that her good shoes and clothes wouldn't look too good when we came back in.

So we took a "rain check" on our plans of building mud castles and spent a bit of time discussing what "tools" we would need to build mud castles.

She appeared to be delighted at the prospect of building mud castles. And to tell you the truth, I can hardly wait to get out into the garden next time she comes and build a whole town of mud castles.

Cuz you see I just come to hate the mud since this time of year brings a whole lot of it around here. When I feed the cows, the mud sucks at my boots and the feeders are surrounded by it.

It will be like this until freeze up. I have a long time to hate it.

So building castles out of it with a little girl whose handicap prevents her from many of the activities that most of us take for granted - well that just gives a whole different view of mud.

It can actually be fun for a few minutes.
 

Faster horses

Well-known member
burnt...you truly are a special man.
:tiphat:

I truly hope you never stop making these kinds of posts; for example
the one you made about your daughter coming home and
now this one.
 

Liveoak

Well-known member
It's truly amazing how those that are stickened (like children) with some sort of condition still find the bright spots in everday life. It has a way of making our own perceived problems seem so small, doesn't it?
 

MsSage

Well-known member
Yeap those with disablities and life threatening diseases seem to find the real things that matter in life.
You know you have to get pics and share when this playdate happens. :D :D
 

per

Well-known member
Maybe Corb Lund could write a song about it. BMR got stuck, I got stuck, you got stuck but Burnt rose about it. Perspective can be liberating or debilitating.
 

Big Muddy rancher

Well-known member
My oldest started volunteering at a therapeutic riding stable. Mostly she leads but sometimes is a holder/side walker.It is really interesting talking to her Monday nights after she gets back from the barn.She is so pumped up about the clients and the fun and progress they have/make on the horses.
Even the youth that volunteer make her feel better about the next generation. :D
 

burnt

Well-known member
I guess I won't be posting pictures because my daughter did not feel that it was ethical to post pictures of someone elses child. I'd have to agree.

But maybe we can show the finished product at least.
 

leanin' H

Well-known member
Burnt, THANKS! We all need to put things into perspective sometimes. Like turning lemons into lemonade. Hope the mud-castle construction project goes wonderfully well. You made my day! :D
 

andybob

Well-known member
Keep up the good work Burnt, working with special needs children does bring its own reward, there is a need for more activities especially riding, I was unable to find any riding for the disabled when in NC for Craig, just too much red tape involved in insurance etc. Both my boys are back riding here in the UK. The one advantage of the social services is that activities for disadvantaged children are so easily accessed, and more easily organised.
 
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