June 1, 2023
A Night of Miracles and Being “Just a Mom”
Last night I was just a mom.
That reads funny, I know. I mean, I have four kids. I’m always ‘just’ a mom.
I pack lunches and wash blankets. I kiss owies and scrub grass stains out of baseball pants. I give baths and hold hands and know all the passwords and how to fix the wifi when it stops working.
With my oldest, Cooper, it’s a bit different.
At age three he was diagnosed with severe nonverbal autism. And well, the game changed a bit.
Suddenly I became more than just a mom.
I was a nurse and a therapist and an advocate. I also became his person. The one who was connected to him by an invisible cord.
I became his calm space. His voice. The one who understood him without words. The pressure felt immense at times.
And also, his friend.
My son is 12 now. A sixth grader.
He has never had a playdate. Or an invite of any kind really.
And while he doesn’t seem to care…it weighs on me as his mom.
A friend. Just one.
Last night, at the kick off for Miracle League Baseball, I had my first ever experience of being just his mom.
See when we got there, his friend Peyton was waiting for him. She helped him find his jersey. And put his hat on. Then she took him to play carnival games. She showed him to participate.
When he sat down…she sat down.
When he wandered…she wandered.
She grabbed his hand. She led the way.
When it came time to hit the ball his favorite therapist grabbed his hand and off they went. They ran the bases together. The high fived and hugged.
It’s funny.
Watching. Observing. Being just a mom on the sidelines.
It’s so much more than an adaptive baseball game.
‘Cooper! I have been waiting for you!’
Finding Cooper’s Voice is a safe, humorous, caring and honest place where you can celebrate the unique challenges of parenting a special needs child. Because you’re never alone in the struggles you face. And once you find your people, your allies, your village….all the challenges and struggles will seem just a little bit easier. Welcome to our journey. You can also follow us on Facebook.
