Sunday, September 18, 2011

Fine Line

To say that I am identified by my role as Rojo’s mother, is an understatement. I eat, sleep, breath Rojo – have for fifteen years now. I plan. I organize. I create. I build. I improvise. I catch. I readjust. I schedule. I therapize. I worry. I trust. I laugh. I cry. I bore. I entertain. I discourage. I inspire. All in the name of Rojo.

It’s also fair to say that if you’re a friend of Rojo’s, you’re a friend of mine, and vice-versa. The people that I’m close to in my life, are close to him. No exceptions. Some are close to him only by reading the blog. Some because he now texts them and calls. Some because he stops by to visit. Some because they met him while throwing a ball to their dog.

We have neighbors that live right behind us. They are a retired couple that have put two wicker chaise lounges on their front porch, hooked up a fan, and spend as much time out there as possible on nice days. He reads the paper and his business and news magazines. She reads O Magazine and paperbacks. I did not know all this until receiving a text from Rojo on Saturday morning that said, “COME TO THE V.’S FOR ICED TEA. COME RIGHT NOW. BRING FLICKA.”

So, naturally, I did. They wanted to meet me formally, since they’d been spending quite a bit of time with Rojo. He had told me he’d met them while riding his bike around the block (over and over and over again), and now and then he’d say, “I’m going to go say hi to the V.’s.”

While never having officially met the V.’s, I knew exactly who they were. I know their oldest daughter, who happens to be the mother of K., a young woman with Down Syndrome – the V.’s oldest grandchild. I also know their youngest (of six) “child.” Turns out they get quite a kick out of him and his visits are a highlight of their day.

On Monday two different friends living on two different blocks both told me they’d attended their block parties over the weekend, and Rojo was quite the subject of conversation. Person after person mentioned how much they enjoy their visits with him at the dog park. People I knew. People I didn’t know. One friend said an older man on her block got choked up talking about him, and how excited he was that he was able to go to high school with his sister, and how neat the new program was.

All these people know Rojo in a way I don't. They know him when I'm not around. They know him differently, and that's something I need to keep in mind.

Met with the preschool teacher that worked with him over the summer. She was so impressed with how much growth she saw in him in just two months, and wanted to really encourage me to keep pushing him, not to put limits on him, that nothing was impossible: driving a car, going to college, getting married.

While I can’t fathom him ever doing any of those things, I am trying to walk that fine line between realism and optimism. I certainly don’t want to hold him back, nor do I want to push for things that are simply never going to happen. Because I am so identified as his mother, it’s hard to remember that others may have a view of him that I am unable to see – doesn’t mean it’s accurate, doesn’t mean it isn’t, but it’s a view worth climbing up to and taking a look from every now and then.

9 comments:

  1. Sometimes it's a tightrope. Sometimes it's a slackline. Either way, balance takes lots of practice and strength.

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  2. You are the poster family for "it takes a village." Deliberate or not, this village has created firm relationships with your family and I'm willing to bet they get as much or more as they give in this arrangement. It is so terrific to get others' perspectives on our kids and I hope you find it validating for you and an homage to your hard work and dedication and love.

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  3. I love that he has so many people in his life who appreciate him. I love that you are willing to consider the vantage point of others without being threatened. It takes someone really secure in what they know to do that.
    I bet that iced tea was delicious!

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  4. This is definitely where I am right now with Nigel! Your writing always speaks to me at a soul level. Love.

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  5. Beautiful post! You are such a wise and good mom.
    ;)

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  6. Hi Carrie,
    My "baby" Elizabeth passed this one on to me and can't wait to share it with the V's.(They are currently out of town for a few weeks but tell Rojo they will be back soon!) They delight in Rojo's visits and tell me all about them/ him. I see so much in him that I see in Kara....loving life and everything in it!
    Kara once said to me around the age of 9 or 10 "I love my life! What more could we want from any of our kid's but to hear such words.
    I love reading your blog and get more than you could know from it!
    Take care,
    Susan

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  7. This was a very motivational post. I wish you all the luck. Get well soon my dear. God is with you. Happy to know that you are getting better day by day and feeling happy. Stay blessed..!!
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