to my daughter
November 22, 2016 § 10 Comments
It’s been six days since we picked up your back brace. In that time there have been no complaints, zero drama. You’ve been stubbornly independent and quietly determined as you muscle through the awkwardness of limited mobility and disrupted sleep.
Your doctor, orthotist, and nurses encouraged you to take your time, to settle into new routines, but each day you’ve challenged yesterday’s goals with your own ideas.
It was your idea to try sleeping through the night that first day; your idea to invite friends over to share your news quietly; your idea to wear it to school without a plan.
When teachers and staff offered to educate peers, you postponed the extra attention and planned for an upcoming health unit; a time when your experiences might complement the curriculum rather than interrupt routine.
You aren’t one to call attention to yourself, make excuses or seek special treatment. Humor and humility have armored you with a resilience that fortifies the tenderness of your self-awareness with grit.
A time will come when you don’t remember the sore muscles or cumbersome brace, so I’m stealing a moment today to remember your grace that you might one day know how very proud Dad and I are of your unassuming nature and uncommon courage.
At an age when so many worry about how they look, there is no vanity to your pride; no boastfulness in your effort.
Only the beautiful way you walk tall.
Love, Mom
scribblechic 
They do amaze with their resilience Marie 😀
I wonder why we are amazed. Myself included. Perhaps we should first offer others an assumption of ability and the generosity of empathy in place of sympathy.
And in among that Marie, is the ‘unconditional love’ we all seek 😀
We’re all working on it as we bounce from one to the other, it all teaches 😀
Kudos to her for braving it all. I am sure she has learned grace from her mother:).
Honestly, I’m taking notes.
This made me tear up! What an incredible child you have!
Thank you! This experience is so very new to us that I’m grateful each day for my daughter’s mindset as she acclimates to a new normal.
I found out I had scoliosis at the age of 9 and for me, I didn’t realize how challenging it was until many years late. I think it’s incredibly brave of her to take everything the way she’s doing it. If you ever need anything or have any questions, let me know. I am happy to help. Sending a big hug your way.
Thank you for such a generous and personal offer.
xoxo