Thursday, April 29, 2010

"The kids want to know...

...why Isla has wobbly legs".


This is how my walk to school went this morning.

I think it's the first time that someone has ever asked me that question. Most of the time I think people wait for me to offer up an explanation.

"She has Cerebral Palsy" I replied.

The mother who asked is Isla's best school-friend's mother, and she is so lovely. I think she was worried about asking me, because she said, "I'm sorry, I mean if it's okay for me to ask?".

I don't know how much information to give. Do I leave it at CP or do I go on about how she got it, where she's affected, what the future holds for her? How much information do people actually want?

I was lucky in that she asked more questions like, "Was she born with it?" and "Do you know why?". All questions I could answer.

I offered up some info on her Orthotics {which we pick up in 2 weeks, yay!} so that they know what they are when Isla starts wearing them again.

I could feel my voice going funny when I was talking about it, you know that wavering feeling just before you burst into tears? But the thing is, I wasn't sad, I was happy. Really happy that she asked me, that she didn't just fob off the kids questions and actually asked and was interested in Isla and her CP.

Isla has started going to Before + After School Care on Fridays while I'm at TAFE, and her little friend goes with her. The mother said she loves Isla so much and always hears about her from her daughter. She said that when she picked her daughter up from ASC she asked the teachers how Isla settled in on her first day there ♥ only to be told that the children there were all falling over each other to be the person to help Isla out ♥

This has been the best thing about starting school for Isla, the way that the other kids want to help her and don't want her to miss out on doing anything. At school, her teacher said the kids race each other to get to Isla's bag to help get her fruit out for munch 'n' sip. They all want to take a turn at sitting on the cushions with her. Kids can be awesome ♥

7 comments:

Alison said...

Isla's school friends sound so lovely - brought a tear to my eye!!

Yaya' s Home said...

Don't you just love it when people don't pretend there is nothing out of the ordinary? I would far rather anyone broach a subject and ask questions than to just get Looks that I have to interpret.

~ Yaya
Yaya's Home

Rathi said...

Awww. That is so cute. Isla is a charm.

Anonymous said...

I agree, Isla's friends do sound lovely.

Belinda said...

Really great to read! xx.

Anonymous said...

so lovely! I agree that well focused quesytions can often be much better than no questions at all - and what lovely kids Isla has around her!!

Courtley said...

your little girl is such a treasure :)