More often than not, with Josiah getting bigger and stronger, it takes an extra pair of hands to help with him.  I’m not so quick to whisk him off on an errand as I was when he was much younger.  Gone are the days when his little body could be transferred from car seat to stroller, allowing us to get out and about at whim, having fun.

Now, it takes a willingness on Josiah’s part to participate.  If he’s not on board with the plan of the day, life becomes much more difficult for all of us. If Josiah decides he’s not interested in something, he can easily cause enough of a ruckus to almost get his way.  Notice the word ‘almost’ there.

Josiah has one very competitive, determined mom.  If it becomes a battle of the wills, I’m going to do my best to win.  I have to.  Otherwise this boy will be calling the shots for the rest of his life and he’s only 13.

I learned this morning, when it comes to battling Josiah, my will may not always be enough. Sometimes it takes a boatload of moms.  Moms who walk a similar road; who know the struggles of parenting a special needs child and aren’t afraid to jump in and offer assistance when things start to fall apart.  Moms who will risk the stares and glares of total strangers to grab a flailing arm or leg to help you drag your almost taller than you and definitely stronger than you son through the entry way of a large entertainment venue.

Moms who will create a human blockade to keep your increasingly agitated and ever resistant son from jumping up off the floor and darting toward the door.  Those same moms will use their bodies to gently inch said child ever so slowly, closer to the ‘fun’ that awaits, if only he will give up this crazy idea of escaping. All the while, they will speak loving words of affirmation or share stories of similar experiences they’ve endured with their child.  Always empathizing and encouraging you to continue in your quest to make sure your child knows he needs to comply.

And it also takes moms who will grab your son by his belt loops and hold his flailing body upright while you race to grab a bowling ball.  She’ll wait there, ignoring her own child who happens to be having a joyful time just one lane over, while a bowling ball is brought to Josiah, and placed carefully on the plastic dinosaur ramp for Josiah to push down the lane.  She will hang on to those belt loops and prop your child up as long as it takes for him to realize he IS going to participate.

Life with a ‘challenged’ child brings many challenges, but it also offers many blessings. You GHFEDS moms are tops among those blessings.  Thank you for your loving, kind support.  Thank you for being there this morning for Josiah and me.  Thank you for making a difference, just by being you.  You guys are the best.  I love you all.

And thank you to your children who rallied around, doing their best to encourage Josiah to get up off the floor and join them on the bowling alley.  Their kind words and gentle touches were so sweet and sincere.

And to that very large group of people with the matching blue T-shirts celebrating a family reunion at Main Event this morning, please know, the resistant boy thrashing about all around your feet as you were checking in, was not being abused.  Those women hovering over him, frantically grabbing arms and legs, poking him up under his arm pits and dragging as much of him as they could every few minutes were not being unkind.

We were just teaching Josiah, bowling is fun!