Labels

We all have them, whether we like it or not. And how we are labeled depends upon who is doing the labeling.

She's precocious. He's artsy. They're athletic.

I’ve found out over the years, through many heartbreaking experiences, that my son is destined to go through life with dozens of “labels” that describe him as a series of conditions, not for the beautiful human being he is. This fact revealed itself to me the day I took my beautiful, injured son to the emergency room for a broken arm. Based upon the reaction of the doctors, the arm was the least condition of interest. His grocery list of medical issues seemed to be more appealing than the mangled arm resting on his lap.

Today I watched my son as he drove his wheelchair through Barnes and Noble. Watched the people stare at him. Watched him struggle to navigate the narrow aisles of books that the staff had shoved together without regard to access by those who cannot walk on their own two feet. I watched him look around the store for books he wanted, seemingly oblivious to the children gawking at him. I fought back the tears and helped him find some books.



I wish I knew how to change the world in this regard. It is unfair. It is criminal.

**sigh**

This is my son “on paper”:

Ataxia
Auditory Neuropathy
Deafness
Large Fiber Sensory Neuropathy
Optic Nerve Atrophy
Nystagmus
Areflexia
Scoliosis
Legally blind
Hypotonic
Retinal Sheathing
Muscle wasting
Language delay
Neurological disease
Finger contractions

If only people who first meet him could see him as he really is:

Kind
Joyous
Loving
Above average intelligence
Gifted artist
Incredibly handsome (some tell me a young Tom Cruise)
Best big brother ever
Outdoorsman
Courageous
Persistent
Curious
Great sense of humor
Astounding memory
Story teller
Master of puzzles
Math whiz
Spelling whiz

But most of all: regular 10-year old boy trapped in a body that doesn’t work the way it should.

No, it's not fair. This world...this terrible, judgemental society...it's just not fair.

I'm sorry Alex, my love. I'm so sorry the world has this in store for you. I am here to crash through the walls for you. To pound down anyone who limits you and belittles you because you are not who they envision a "whole" person to be. I know who you are. And I won't ever let you down. I love you. -Mommy

Love-Hate Relationship

I should probably confess right now that we are not farmers.

There. I said it.

Nontheless, we do live on what was once a working dairy farm. Originally called, Oakdale, at some point in its past a previous owner re-dubbed the property, Valleybrook Farm. A wise choice, considering there are no oaks on the property and we are in a valley with a creek intersecting through it.

Over the years I have developed a love-hate relationship with Valleybrook Farm (the home, not the business.) Depending upon the day and the time of year, I either love it or loathe it. Today I decided to examine some of the things that enter into this complex relationship.

I LOVE the million dollar view.

















I HATE the 2,000 foot long driveway that makes trash hauling and snow plowing a pain in the butt.























I LOVE the old time-weathered buildings, especially our majestic bank barn.

I HATE my $700/month electric bill.

I LOVE the serentiy.

I HATE our crummy, ugly driveway.

But most of all, I LOVE that all of my children have lived here from the day they were born, and (hopefully) will take this place with them in their hearts for the rest of their lives.

Visitors

This morning I was greeted by 28 Canadian Geese enjoying our pond. This is the time of year that they go pond hunting; scouting-out real estate for the perfect place to lay their eggs in the Spring. Every year we get at least one little family who decides to stay a while.



Hopeful one of these nice young couples will call Valleybrook Farm their home.

Gates

Some are for keeping people in. Some are for keeping people out.

This gate is long overdue.

The latest additon to Valleybrook Farm is our goregous new entrance gate. After 15 years of looking out my window and watching curiosity seekers wander across my property, fish in our pond, wander through our historic buildings, we finally have a way to keep our home private. Only time will tell if this gate will truly keep people out, but for now, I am just delighting in the sheer beauty of it.