I saw a video today online of two brothers who compete in triathlons together.
One is 8 and one is 6.
One has cerebral palsy and one does not.
The older brother pushes his younger one in a stroller for the duration of the race.
It wasn't exactly our situation of course, but it hit close to home.
When we decided to adopt Ava I remember people asking if we'd thought about how it would effect our future children, having a sister with a disability like cerebral palsy.
I asked myself the same question.
Our boys are still young but there is no doubt that Ava is the apple of their eye. Like any younger sibling, Judson idolizes his older sister. He mimics her and loves the things that she loves. When he was 16 months old he started trying to walk with a limp because he was so closely observing Ava's movements. He glows when she compliments him or pays him extra attention.
To him, she is typical. He doesn't see any special need in her. But, without even knowing it, he is learning lessons in compassion, sensitivity and patience that can't be learned through anything but life experience.
These are the things that I wish for all my children. For them to be kind and sensitive to the needs of others.
These lessons aren't always easy (I know because I am also growing and stretching as I learn to parent a child with special needs.)
But they are good. They are SO good and we thank God for the lessons learned.
So now when I think back on the question I asked myself, How will having a child with CP effect my other children, I can answer confidently,
In the best way possible.
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