I am organizationally impaired, deficient, disabled.
My daughter Beth, on the other hand, is a super organizer. She gets that from her Dad.
Beth comes to our house for the weekend and the first thing she does is organize her clothes - the clothes that stay here that go through the wash between visits but never get put away until she comes back. I tell myself that she'd rather do it herself - whatever!
After she's done with her own stuff, she starts organizing our stuff, cleaning dirty coffee cups off the desks, putting eyeglasses and car keys where they belong and - without being asked, I kid you not - emptying all the wastebaskets!
We love it when Beth comes to visit!
These photos were taken a few years back, but she hasn't changed very much. That is, except for quite a few grey hairs and her age. She's 37 years old now. Since coming to Florida she has attended an adult day treatment program where she gets instruction in academics, social skills and activities of daily living. Beth's favorite part of the program is the workshop, because she earns real money there.
Thirty-seven years ago I would get up at night and rock this little baby and cry and cry. Then one night I looked down at her sleeping peacefully and realized she didn't have a care in the world. She didn't know she had Down Syndrome. She didn't know her life would be substantially different than most people's.
It was then that I started taking her life - and mine - "one day at a time."
I started noticing that my worries about the future took up space in my head and drained my energy. I also noticed that what I wasted time and energy worrying about almost never came to pass and, if it did, was never as bad as I thought it would be.
So my motto for life is "one day at a time" or, "We'll cross that bridge when we get to it."
Makes for a peaceful life. Although, I think I should tweak it somewhat when it comes to housework....!
Have a wonderful day!
My daughter Beth, on the other hand, is a super organizer. She gets that from her Dad.
Beth comes to our house for the weekend and the first thing she does is organize her clothes - the clothes that stay here that go through the wash between visits but never get put away until she comes back. I tell myself that she'd rather do it herself - whatever!
After she's done with her own stuff, she starts organizing our stuff, cleaning dirty coffee cups off the desks, putting eyeglasses and car keys where they belong and - without being asked, I kid you not - emptying all the wastebaskets!
We love it when Beth comes to visit!
These photos were taken a few years back, but she hasn't changed very much. That is, except for quite a few grey hairs and her age. She's 37 years old now. Since coming to Florida she has attended an adult day treatment program where she gets instruction in academics, social skills and activities of daily living. Beth's favorite part of the program is the workshop, because she earns real money there.
Thirty-seven years ago I would get up at night and rock this little baby and cry and cry. Then one night I looked down at her sleeping peacefully and realized she didn't have a care in the world. She didn't know she had Down Syndrome. She didn't know her life would be substantially different than most people's.
It was then that I started taking her life - and mine - "one day at a time."
I started noticing that my worries about the future took up space in my head and drained my energy. I also noticed that what I wasted time and energy worrying about almost never came to pass and, if it did, was never as bad as I thought it would be.
So my motto for life is "one day at a time" or, "We'll cross that bridge when we get to it."
Makes for a peaceful life. Although, I think I should tweak it somewhat when it comes to housework....!
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| Hearts In A Basket |
2 comments:
What a wonderful post, and it put a lump in my throat. I am so glad you figured out how to live your life so early on. It has probably saved your sanity! Your art piece is a basket full of you and Beth...:) Love it!
Jude *
There's a lump in my throat, too. Wonderful post!
"If only ..." can be so destructive, can't it? Beth's a blessing to our family. Give her a big hug from us.
Suzie
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