Every Day

Every day Lilly and I get to pick up Caleb from school. I'm one of 3 other moms and a school bus that lovingly await the opening of the gate, which is followed by the procession of teachers, aides, and students. It's pretty interesting really...a few faces light up when they see their mom, a couple hardly have any reaction until they are two inches from their mom's face, and then one or two have no outward reaction (may I remind you, Caleb is in a Special Ed SDC classroom where Autism and other disabilities are prevalent, which also means the ability to communicate emotion does not come easy, and for some, does not come at all).

And then there's Caleb. As soon as that gate opens up and he sees my face, he yells "HI MOM!!" over and over with the biggest-chinniest grin until we're holding hands and walking to the car. I mean...it's the cutest thing ever, and I'm not just saying it because he's mine...other moms giggle when they see him every day too, and here's why:

Today, just like every day, the gate opened up and he jumped up & down shouting "HI MOM!!" as one other mom and I waited. The other mom then turned to me and said...

"You know, it is so.cute. how he does that every day. I would give my right arm for my son to be able to do that."

...and my heart sank. And ached. And here, an hour later at home, it is still aching for that one mom who holds her son's heart every day. There are things Caleb can't do; many things (which I'm sure I'll have lots of chances to write about). But this moment today made me exceptionally thankful for Caleb and for small moments like these, which are truly HUGE moments in the heart of a special needs mom.

Lastly I'll end with a picture I took last week of Caleb "playing the bongos." He pats on each and every one of those wooden stumps every day, and while some days it's endearing, and some days it's obnoxious (like seriously he has to do it every.day.) I'm reminded that not every child can do these things, and I'm very very thankful for this little bug of mine.