I guess I asked for it, with a statement like that in my last entry...
This morning after PT I put the girls in the car and headed to work. I always stop for Starbucks after I drop off my kids. So I am in Safeway minding my own business and I hear a little girl talking, as she and her Mom walked by me I said, "Are you Jessica?"...
Back Story...
When Tatum first went back to daycare, a lady there gave me the phone number of her neighbor who has a little girl with WS. I spoke to Sallie a few times and she told me about her daughter Jessica we had planned to meet but with summer and both our busy schedules we have not been able to hook up
Back to Safeway
...The little girl stopped , said "Yes" and started talking to me like she had known me for years. I introduced myself to Sallie, her mother, so she did not think I was some crazy lady in the store, she was happy to meet me and that I was finally meeting Jess.
Jessica is the first child that I have meet with WS and actually with the exception of baby pictures she is the oldest WS child I have ever seen. I am not going to lie I could tell immediately when I saw her that this child had WS. Jessica was one of the sweetest 12 year olds I have ever meet, she has long beautiful hair terrific blue eyes and this great little body ( her fist consultation for braces is Wed).
I was not prepared for this encounter, it was early I had not gotten much sleep and my mind was really one track, coffee and work. To look into the eyes of a 12 year old that looks an older version of Tatum is not so easy but I knew it would happen eventually. My reaction once I left the store was not what I predicted, I called Chris to tell him and while talking to him I lost it. I cannot tell you for sure why I was crying but I could not stop. As the day went one and my support system comforted me it got much better.
I think had a been mentally prepared for this encounter it would have been a tad easier but I would bet my reaction would have been somewhat the same. I know that the spectrum for WS is huge and we have no way of telling where Tatum falls on this scale so maybe she and Jessica won't have much in common who knows. I am sure we are going to all meet Jess again soon but for now I am just going to enjoy my baby at the stage she is in.
I think we have one big milestone down for Mom on a road never traveled by us.
Next time I say “Bring it on” someone kick me... And God do you have to take me so literarily? Baby steps please...
2 comments:
I thought about you all day yesterday. There is nothing I can say to you except that I understand. I would react the exact same way...I picked up my WS DVDs twice now and just set them back down. I can't watch them yet because I am not quite ready. At least I have control over that...you had it sprung on you, which had to be very hard. Hopefully you got some sleep last night and are feeling a little better today. xoxox
I recently watched some tapes that confirmed what I already thought... and actually made me feel a little hopeful. Everyone was so happy, for the most part. It's kind of refreshing that way. It did hit me a little about their life as an adult, and all I can think about that is we started out EI so much earlier than these people that hopefully it will make a difference.
I showed my friend the photo gallery on the WSF website and she didn't think the kids looked different for about 95% of the time. I know we see the WS traits... heck, I smile when I see Brady in Tatum and Erik and Daven. :)
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