Slinky Action War Zone

I was 16 weeks pregnant when I had my 4th Ultrasound with Leah. Most women are lucky to get 2, at most. I didn't think I was lucky. Four weeks prior, when I was still getting used to being pregnant, the routine prenatal tests the Dr's. suggested I'd take had come back with dismal news. Leah was most likely a carrier for Cystic Fibrosis.

I went through a pain-staking amniocentesis to discover that she did in fact have this disease.

 

(My ultrasound the day of my first amnio)

 

I was offered my first "opportunity", as they saw it, to terminate.

Because I chose otherwise, they sent me in for a 2nd opinion.

At 16 weeks pregnant, more than half way to go, I had lost all joy. Was I bringing a baby into this world that had no hope to begin with? Am I being selfish continuing with this?

At the third hospital, they not only confirmed her CF, but they also broke the news that Leah would be born without the rest of her right arm.

How am I going to deal with this? I don't know what it's like to be without an arm, so how will I raise someone without one? What do I tell everyone? The questions only went on and on. Worst of all, they stopped referring to her as a baby, and started referring to her as a "genetic mutant". Did I make the right decision?

 

Like any other normal day, trying to fight boredom, and two toddlers, I decided to head to Slinky's. I hoped and prayed that this would tire them out, and I might get a nap in too.

We got there early, the place was bare. I was excited at the thought they could have the place almost to themselves to wreak their havoc. Leah loves these opportunities. She thrives on running at the speed of light and I won't have to tell her NO a thousand times. Not even 20 minutes goes by, and it was quickly becoming crowded.

I finally rediscovered Leah in the ball pit, and a little boy around five, throwing balls at her. I politely asked him to stop. To see this boy, he did not fit in. Khakis, Sweater-Vest, and the attitude to match. He climbed out of the ball pit, came over to my friend and I, and began to tell us about "The one armed guy over there". My heart sank a tiny bit as he ran away. Did that just happen? I'm used to kids asking questions, but never this brazen.

 

Another while had gone by, chasing Liam around the entire area, on and off rides, when I began to notice the same kid, Preston, gathering kids around Leah. Wherever she went he followed her gathering his posse, saying things like "Guys there she is, the one armed girl".

I just stood there. Frozen. Blood boiling. And I definitely would be lying if I said I didn't think about tackling this kid.

But I did absolutely nothing.

A few times I followed him as he ran to his mother, cluelessly texting, oblivious that her son was turning my daughter into a Zoo exhibit.

This is what I had been preparing for, for 3 years now. The only thing that had stopped me, was Leah. She had no idea what was happening. She was too busy making new friends, and having the time of her life. When she went down the slides she would run over to us, elated, saying, " I did it, I'm going again!"

When we left, I felt wrong for not stopping that boy, or at least talking to his Mother.

 

In the days since, I've been reading a book that I purchased Bill for Christmas; Heroes for My Son, by Brad Meltzer.

Page after Page filled with characters such as Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela, Team Hoyt, Dr. Seuss, and Miep Gies. I chuckled to my self, reading their bios and realizing, what my children have taught me.

I could have said something, but that kid will always be that kid, because his mother is who is Mother is. She watched her son throw balls at other kids, let him bully kids in the areas designated for toddlers, and most of all ignored him being cruel to others.

 

Children are born curious; not cruel

 

My Children are my heroes, and most days when I'm trying to teach them a life lesson in between the millionth episode of Dora the Explorer and wrestling them to bed, they teach me a thing or two.

Children are fearless. They triumph in adversity. They do not fail; they only try again. There is no black and white. They find joy in the smallest thing. And hopefully, if all of our parenting doesn't get in the way, they'll continue to be the Good in the world.