A Little Child Shall Lead Them

It's a little disorienting to have a child with special needs, that doesn't grow up at the rate of their peers. It's hard to see how time has marched on, when you have a sixteen-year-old that still insists on visiting Santa so he'll know what to bring him on Christmas. Who still squeals with joy when the Advent calendar comes out, and when the $.99 Trader Joe chocolate one comes home. Who can't wait to see their favorite ornament (a little bear) when we decorate the tree. Who talks about the lights, the stockings, how he loves our tradition of not eating breakfast until after we open the presents, who can't sleep at night he's so excited, and can barely get through the school day with all the anticipation.

I recently took Rojo to visit Santa, and blogged about my angst over that. As with most things, they don't turn out to be as bad or as great as we build them up to be in our heads, and visiting Santa was no exception. There were a few minutes of awkwardness and self-consciousness on my part, but zero on his. It's my own fragile ego that's the problem, not his lack of one. Of that, I am certain. One of these days I am going to remember at the time, that he is here to teach, not the other way around, and just breath through the moment with gratitude for the lesson(s) he's imparting.

I realize not everyone reading this blog celebrates Christmas, and that there are readers from all faiths and no faith at all. If Rojo has taught me nothing else, it's that none of that matters. What we label ourselves, what we believe, who, what and how we worship, none of it makes a lick of difference. Love is good, and that is something everyone can agree on. Rojo is here to teach "just" that. Love. Pure, unconditional, simple, innocent, everlasting and much-needed love.

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Carrie is a parent and advocate of a child with special needs and even more special gifts. She blogs at http://carrielink.blogspot.com/ where this is pretty much her favorite topic.