“Don’t tell me the sky’s the limit. There’s footprints on the moon.” ~Paul Brandt
As the sun filtered through the trees and danced on our backs in the Saturday afternoon light, I could feel the soft blanket beneath my hands. Q, E and I sat outside blowing bubbles. The clear circles of light and air floated around their heads silently dancing and beckoning smiles and giggles.
It was mid-afternoon and it was quickly approaching snack time, and as I have hundreds of times, I reached for their juice pouch.
It was one simple moment that brought extreme clarity. As if jumping off the pouch, this quote grabbed my heart and buried itself in that place that connects your soul to your brain, it’s the place where epiphanies happen.
The air rushed out of my lungs and the visions of last week crystallized in my mind. The Preschool transition time was for me. 3 hours for 3 days sitting in the classroom was not so much so that Q and E could transition, but it really had been for me, so that I might transition mentally and emotionally on multiple levels.
On that Thursday, the final day, sitting there outside on the playgound letting the sun wash over me as I tried to rid myself of the chill from the cool breeze, it was me that broke through. I had gone into that Monday thinking the sky’s the limit, but on Thursday I realized there are footprints on the moon.
On that Thursday, ‘Little Miss’ ran up to me to smile brightly and say “Hi!.” She giggled as I said “Hi, little miss!” I returned her giant smile as she quietly lingered around me. Not too close but not too far. She brightened up our little corner of the playground. My eyes drifted to E on the swing who was going higher and higher and starting to giggle hysterically. Q ran toward me to reassure us both that I was still there and once eye contact was made promptly turned around to say “Ehhh-maaa” and pointed at her as her laughter rang through the playground. My eyes filled with tears and my heart smiled. We were meant to be here. I turned back to watch ‘Little Miss’ as she bounced around near me. ‘Little Miss’ has beautiful brown hair just pulled back into a small ponytail at the nape of her neck, the sweetest face and voice like a fairy princess. She has Down Syndrome and she sparkles. On that last day there, I was only seeing her as a little girl, a bright sparkly little girl. So much had changed in just 3 short days….
Despite my best efforts, Monday had rocked my world. I thought I was in touch with our scenario, that I had embraced that we were special needs, but the truth is I hadn’t really, I was still coming from the place of what wasn’t quite right and where we needed to go. But yet, my new little friends had showed me a whole new way to look at things. What are we good at? What do we offer? A bright smile, a gentle outstretched hand, complete acceptance, the ability to imagine and play and an attitude that they will be the next to put their footsteps on the moon.
I felt like the “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” I had been living in a cocoon. What I thought was normal, what I thought I knew, these things were not to be the future of our journey. I had to have those 3 days for a metamorphosis so that I could see clearly who was riding on our rocket ship with us. To know that we would all bypass the stars and head to the moon with all of our new friends.
Coming from a place of strength is a beautiful thing. Not just to think you know it, but to feel it. Feel what you can do, what you like to do, what you are good at and start there. We all have things we are good at and those that we aren’t so good at. Recently, I wrote a post that talked about what I wasn’t so good at, and that awareness has it’s benefits but now, today with all our new little friends in my heart I think about what I am good at and what my minis are good at, and what my KSP is good at. Not to focus on what we need to work on, but rather where we build from, the strength of our foundation.
I wish you all your true recognition of what you are good at today and also those around you. Whether it’s family, parenting, career, a hobby, being a friend, whatever it is, feel the moment in your heart and be happy you are this way and if you are so inclined tell those you love what they are good at too. For you and them, you can be happy you had this moment and let that moment make it ‘yournewfavoriteday.’ We will see you on the moon:)
What are you good at? Please share, I love to hear what you have to say as it always inspires me!
Featured Image source: myconfinedspace.com
mynewfavoriteday 
Beautifully written Shannon. What the world needs is more people who are aware of their god given talents and use them to make themselves and others become more alive. It is not only bliss to recognise our greatness but to share with and inspire others to do the same.
Thanks so much! I couldn’t agree more as I think we do all give ourselves too much of a hard time. Focusing on what we aren’t good at instead of being aware of what we are good at and therefore feeling happier and more alive. I LOVE your comment, I just feel all warm and fuzzy inside reading it!
Your love for your children shines through so clear in your writing. They just called out to me to read your remarkable journey, your remarkable story and your beautiful, beautiful children. Hugs from one mother to another, Shaz
Thanks so much Shaz. This is so lovely and it so brightened my day. Other mama hugs are so appreciated as you know exactly the emotions we go through as mamas!
How wonderful to read how you live with and through your heart- how you see the beauty and spark in Little Miss and be touched by it.
To know that you are exactly where you are supposed to be with E and Q and to see the huge gift that feels like arriving at the moon. Only people who see with their heart are touched deeply by moments like that. Thank you for sharing and inspiring us to cherish what really matters.
Thank you! What a lovely thing to say and see things, to see things with my heart. I had never really thought of it this way, but it’s so true. My heart leads me these days in all things tied to my children and in some ways the world. Yes, we are leaving our footprints and I think will be here on the moon for some time!
I LOVE this. I want juice pouches like those! Do they really have quotes on the back like that? I relate to this from the feelings I had, the emotional turmoil, when I changed Maycee’s school last year. She had been going to a private, very tight-nit Chrisitian school that I could no longer afford (even splitting three ways with her dad and my dad). I had to take a leap of faith that the local public school-where she is the minority-would suffice. And, much like you, after the first week I was in tears with joy because she LOVED it, was happy there, and now has embraced the culture with open arms. It has been a blessing in many ways, but my heart had to be open to acceptance and change, as well as realizing that I hadn’t failed my child. As for what I’m good at, well, I think I’m feeling a bit too humble to think about those things right now, but I’d like to think I’m getting better at seeing the silver linings amidst the seemingly large clouds-much like you, Shannon. Well, I feel like crying joyful tears right now, from one mommy to another, but I’m at work-darnit! 🙂 Hugs to you and your minis! XOXO-SWM
They do! Honest Kids ( you can find them at Trader Joes) and probably Whole Foods or something, but they are so sweet and who knew juice could be so inspiring! Awww and big hugs right back, because it’s hard! This part of your comment grabbed my heart “realizing that I hadn’t failed my child. ” I grapple with this with each decision I make, and hope what we are doing is enough, the best, or the closest to the best for now. Thank you for sharing your story and I am so glad little Miss Maycee is so happy! Kudos to you mama!:)
I think acceptance happens in stages and in phases. Our kids our constantly changing and presenting new scenarios which require us to accept their disabilities all over again.
Yes, it’s so true. I suppose we all do this, change, evolve and have to refocus on what we can and can’t do so well so as to move forward in the best way possible.
Thanks so much for your lovely warm welcome, and I hope your SITS day exceeds your expectations!!!
Thanks Susan! It’s been quite fun and makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I appreciate your coming by! Hope all is well in the boonies.
Stopping by to wish you a very happy SITS day! What a beautiful, inspirational blog you have here and I am so glad you thought to make this space public, to share your thoughts and identify with other bloggers who have experienced something similar.
Also, your children are just the sweetest. Thank you for brightening my day 🙂
Thanks so much for coming by and saying hello. Thanks so much for brightening my day! It was such a a special day for me and it means a lot to have such kind words and sweetness shared with us here. I hope you are having a great day today!