AMC Ladies – Let’s Talk Shoes

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I know many of us AMCers struggle with shoes.  

You may have clubfoot.  Or one foot that is stronger than the other. Maybe your foot is stuck in a flexed forward position so having a flat foot is merely a dream.

Maybe you’re like me and each foot has its own set of shoe rules and sadly, they want different things… Continue reading →

Poop in every yard…

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Every day I am reminded that having a disability gives you a different perspective from the norm.  We dream of capabilities, face struggles and long for things that may never have even crossed another’s mind.

But to be honest, I think this goes beyond disabilities – it is just being alive. Old people long for energy and good knees, young people long for independence and wisdom, etc.

The grass is always greener right?  But we forget there is probably squirrel poop in every yard.

Continue reading →

Amazing AMCers: Meet Hajnalka and her baby bump…

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I love getting the chance to
know other AMCers. There is something really priceless about finding another
girl who like myself watches in awe at the girl sitting in front of her in
class, on the bus, in a meeting – whip her hair into a ponytail. We are
blown away at the ease and hope they know how insanely lucky they are… oh to
have strong hands.

Through the AMC ladies group on
Facebook, I found other AMCers that long for strong leg muscles, hunt for products to make life easier and do weird things around the house to survive. Continue reading →

Weird Things…

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I’m not sure if other AMCers feel this way but sometimes it
is the normal people that make my life hard.  

I might do weird things like not screw the pickle jar lid on
tight, make pill bottles no longer childproof, keep favorite cups and bowls at
a level that I can reach in the cupboard even if the rest are in a different
place, leave gas caps loose, park in a weird place to avoid slants that make
the car door close when I am trying to get out, stab a hole in the chip bag to
open since I can’t grip and pull it apart…. and the list goes on and on.

These quirks are actually quite strategic.  They are my methods of survival.

So with that said, when I reach for Nyquil and it’s screwed on tight or my
favorite cup is up high – I get so annoyed. I know deep down it is not like the world
is trying to mess with me.  My beloved friends and family are just doing what to them is normal.  Still it messes my mojo and suddenly it takes
me twice as long to do something.

Tonight I was driving home in my husband’s car. His gas
light came on and I stopped to fill it up. It was rainy, windy and January in
Wisconsin. So basically it really sucked outside.  A cold that chilled you to the bone.  I fought with his gas cap for like 15
minutes.  Cursing the audacity of putting
the cap on right. 

WHO DOES THAT?

Finally I gave in and asked the girl at the pump next to me
for help.  She was like 16 and opened
that sucker in like 2 seconds.  What a
show off.  I’m sure it was because I
loosened it up for her.  *wink*

Am I alone or does anyone else do things like this?

    

needing others

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Looking back, my life before becoming a mom was pretty easy. I went to college, had an apartment in a fun part of the city, worked, hung out with friends, and married my best friend.

Once my son was born things changed a lot as I’m sure it does for all new parents. The hardest change is that I did not go anywhere unless we all went as a group since I couldn’t carry my son. It did not seem that bad at first but I think by the fourth week at home I started to feel crazy.

I am overly independent (my mom might call it stubborn) and one of those people who enjoys being alone.  Those days were over, if I wanted to go anywhere with my son I had no choice but to recruit someone to go with me.

I would give anything to be able to put my son in the car and spend an hour at Target. Not having to make small talk with anyone, just sharing the moment with him and browsing through all the things we “need” around the house.

If I leave work early and want to get him from daycare I can’t unless there is someone to meet me at the house to help with the transfer. My son started walking at 10 months which was great because I could call him and he’d follow me around the house. However, the odds of him listening and following me from the car to the house with all the fun distractions outside are slim. It feels too risky yet and he runs fast! 

My situation is bittersweet. I am thankful for an awesome network willing to help but so annoyed that I need it.

Today my husband went to a baseball game and my friend came over to help after work. I went to daycare and they put my son in the car. My friend met me at my house and led him from the car to the house and for the next three hours our kids ran around like crazy going from room-to-room having a blast.

I watched them jump, dance and squeal and began to feel really lucky. If I had not needed help, my son would have not experienced a night of giggles and fun. I would have missed an opportunity to catch up with one of my favorite girls. My needing her also gave her a night out of the house and a chance for her daughter to have fun too.

I have been looking forward to the future when I can regain my independence, and maybe wishing away the baby years more than I should. Tonight was a really good reminder that there is a lot of good to be found in my season of needing others.

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