He's Not Going to Melt in the Rain

 

I got up around 4-something-am to see what Charlie was up to in the kitchen, his cold again interrupting his sleep, and in the midst of feeling unthrilled at anther early waking thought, is it not better to be up together than not?

I made coffee and Charlie ate some apples, dutifully took the over-the-counter stomach and sniffle remedies I offered, and tried to lie down to sleep and really didn't.

But on a misty, moisty day of constant rain in varying volume, Charlie walked at least two mikes and rode around 23 -- 16 uphill on the horse country bike path which he and Jim had almost to themselves -- with ready effort.

Yes, Charlie is disabled and has profound limitations, challenges and needs for support. He is not delicate, needs no coddling and tut-tutting over -- if anything, he is probably most weary of the latter two. Obviously he needs us and others; he also needs us to know when to stop the hovering.

 

Comments

[Elise Ronan]

No hovering...that's a hard one. If you figure out how to really do it,let us know. I can't get the hang of it. :)

[Kristina Chew]

Mixed in with the no hovering is that I'm supposed to know exactly when to provide all the comforts he's been used to since he was little -- blankets, certain crackers...

[Melanie Harper]

I'm not a hoverer by nature (if I had a NT kid s/he would be pretty free-range) but learned to hover over my kiddo because it was necessary. Now, it's darned hard to *unlearn* that habit.