Like a walk in the park

March 18, 2012

For the three years I was at home with Nathan, the one thing I always felt guilty about were some of the special times he and I could spend together. It was especially bad when Annette was working, knowing there was no way we could just swap places.

Nathan and I have always had our moments together, playing steamroller on the bed, having silly times before and after bath. When he’s eating, I find myself saying things I never thought would come out of my mouth. (Tonight it was, “I promise you there is nothing on your tray worth licking.”)

Nathan is still participating in his speech group for kids who use communication devices. Like everything else, it’s on the other side of town. This means from the time Nathan is done with school, Annette comes home with him and stays with him until it’s time for group then it’s 45 minutes in the car, an hour-long session and then (at least) 45 minutes home, during rush hour.

The past few sessions have brought very mild weather, and Annette has gone a little bit early, let Nathan get in his walker and move around on his own, before putting him in his pushchair where he spends the session with his device on his tray. That extra little time on his own seems to be putting him in a good mood which has led to good sessions.

The first two weeks Nathan had really good sessions, impressing the therapists and showing promise with him using his computer. As a reward for the good reports, Annette took Nathan to the special needs park adjacent to the baseball diamond he plays his Miracle League games.

I don’t know who was more excited, Nathan for having time outside, playing and exploring, Annette for having some special time just with Nathan, or me knowing Annette would get some of those special emotions I felt I stole from her times before.

Last Tuesday, Annette wasn’t planning on stopping, however the glowing reports that the therapists provided enough guilt for at least a short trip. We haven’t officially associated Nathan’s extra time outside, with a recent resurgence of energy, but we’ve been pleased on both.

I know this week, the bar has been raised a little higher and expectations are a little greater. It’s not that we don’t think Nathan can do it, but we want to keep building higher not resting on the status quo. Baseball season is still a few weeks away, and hopefully all three of us will get to do that together.

These are the moments we tend to hold onto in our hearts. The times we never want to end, but also cant wait to see where we will be in the future.

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