Rays of Sunshine

“I have become my own version of an optimist.  If I can’t make it through one door, I’ll go through another door – or I’ll make a door.  Something terrific will come no matter how dark the present.”  ~ Sir Rabindranath Tagore

I saw this quote on a friend’s Facebook page yesterday, and it was timely for me.  Things have been extremely difficult this summer regarding kiddo’s neurological challenges and we feel like we’ve been operating in “crisis mode” for quite some time now.

(Actually, I feel like we’ve been operating in crisis mode since kiddo’s arrival, just one month shy of seven years ago today.  We’ve faced one challenge after another – infections, surgeries, near-death experiences, therapies, medications and more -- handling all of it from the day he came into this world because he’s our kiddo and we love him.  I’d like to think any parent would do the same thing for their kiddo.  I’m told by some that isn’t true, but more on that another time.) 

But not the past couple of days.  No…those have been unusually bright, sparkling gems – true rays of sunshine – of fun, laughter and silliness, and just enjoying each other’s company without the drama that has been present so often this summer.

While we’ve taken trips to the zoo, museums and local gardens this summer, the past couple of days were just “typical” days around home – handling tasks and regular therapy appointments, but interspersed with a good amount of interaction, a slew of questions and some fun discoveries.

Yesterday, kiddo and I were watching the Olympics together, and got to see the equestrian individual jumping finals.  If you know me, this will come as no surprise, since I was born with the “horse crazy” gene.  Truly, I would have traded anything as a child to have my own horse; alas, we lived in the city and it wasn’t meant to be.  So I attended horse camps and worked a few summers for a friend who had horses.  If you gave me an opportunity to be around those gentle giants, I’d jump on it – and them.  Still will, and do!

Kiddo started riding horses a couple of years ago, but for different reasons.  We were given a scholarship to the local YMCA camp for him to receive a series of hippotherapy sessions – speech therapy on horseback.  Can you believe this horse-crazy gal had never heard of such a thing?!  (You can check out http://www.americanhippotherapyassociation.org/ for more information.)

Kiddo didn’t want any part of it initially; he is a slight child and even the smaller horse assigned to him looked ginormous.  But we spent some time getting to know “Lightning” ahead of his session (and clarified that his name was no indication of his speed in the arena) before deciding to give it a go.

Early last fall, the therapist working with kiddo told us he had “graduated” from the services she could provide and suggested he move from hippotherapy to therapeutic riding.  He wanted to continue (and I was thrilled!), so on he went.

Since April of this year, kiddo has been working really hard to figure out how to control his body so he can give the horse direction and produce the results he wants.  He has an instructor in the arena with him, and a volunteer who leads the horse (additional safety measures are still needed) but, otherwise, he has his feet in the stirrups and the reins in his hands.

Lately, his instructor has been working with kiddo on his 2-point/forward seat.  (Google it if you want to know more about it; I don’t think I can describe it as well as a visual will.)  Having done this myself, I know what a thigh-buster it can be.  Trust me – there is no piece of gym equipment in the world that can replicate that exercise!  So the fact that he has been able to get into the correct position – just within the last week or so – is a big damn deal!

So when I saw the jumping finals were on, I thought it would be cool if he could get the visual of what he looks like when he’s working on 2-point.  (Just to clarify:  he is NOT jumping...yet.  I don’t even want to think about that option at this point, okay?)  It took him a few minutes to understand what I was talking about, but he eventually caught on.  And he was so excited!  “Hey – mom!  That’s what Miss Andi is having me work on, too!  I’m going to have to tell her about these ‘lympics when I go to my riding lesson tonight.”  Atta boy, kiddo!  You tell her!

I usually take kiddo to his lessons (and I get some quality equine therapy of my own) but had a prior commitment last night, so hubby took him solo.  When I got home, I heard kiddo tell all about the 2-point work he did, what he had to tell Miss Andi and then, much to my surprise, he said, “And I got to learn barrel racing, too!  Just like the cowboys, Mom!  You look and go around a barrel, and look and go around a barrel, and look and go around the last one, then come back to home.  It was cool!”

My heart was so full.  Not only did he do well with what he’s been working on, but he did something new and LIKED it!  That’s a big deal for this kiddo who so often shows anxiety around activities that make him uncomfortable.  Of course, it doesn’t hurt that he’s loving the horses, either.  :)

Later, I learned from hubby that Miss Andi would like kiddo to participate in an actual horse show they are putting together for the therapeutic riding kids.  Kiddo is over the moon about this opportunity.  Me, too.  Seeing him so excited, interested and confident is such a welcome change, and I will support him if this is something he wants to do.

 

As I finish writing tonight, I’m listening to the much-needed rain on the roof above me, laughing at the irony of my title above.  It’s such a real picture of how things are for us:  a ray of sunshine even in the darkest times is something we celebrate.  We’ve already weathered so many years of this storm, and have no idea how much longer it will last, nor if it will get better.  We pray and we hope for better days, but we don’t know when or how often we will get them.

So we’re going to keep celebrating these victories, no matter how small or insignificant they might seem to anyone else.  They're our rays of sunshine amidst much darkness, and they are what have helped us to survive.  I pray the forecast has many, many more in store for us.