Have's and Have Not's

I keep a mental inventory of all the thing that I love about my son despite his special needs and challenges. Here's my list of his have's and have not's:

He has:

• thick hair and long eyelashes any woman would die for
• baby smooth skin without a blemish
• a long, lanky physique and looks great in clothes
• an infectious smile and great teeth (says his dentist!)
• a sweet and gentle disposition
• the patience of a saint, which makes him an excellent shopping buddy!
• an enduring love of books and could be read to 24 hours a day
• an affinity for pirates, knights and swords
• a love of watermelon and other things juicy
• excellent health
• a "diagnosis" of static encephalopathy or cerebral palsy
• an accessible home, where he can crawl from one end of the house to the other - and he does!
• five wheelchairs and strollers (more to come about this)
• excellent driving skills; manages a 400+ lb. power chair with finesse and caution
• dozens of communication choice boards and low tech devices to help him "speak"
• the ability to feed himself, most of the time
• new skills; such as drinking from a straw, getting up onto the couch by himself :-)
• braces and orthotics in a variety of shapes and sizes
• avoidance behaviors
• managed his drooling with help from medication
• sensitivities to certain smell and loud noises
• a dedicated team of teachers, therapists and other educators
• doubled-up health insurance coverage
• grandparents who love him
• a sister who makes him laugh
• a dad who would feed him and bathe him until he is 100 years old
• a mom with a sore back.

He does not have:

• the ability to walk independently
• the ability to talk independently
• the ability to eat ice cream without help
• essential skills such as reading, spelling or addition
• ability to dress himself but can choose this clothes (preferably sweats)
• interest in sports or girls (yet)
• an inappropriate IEP
• temper tantrums
• aggressive behaviors
• stamina (he still benefits from a nap)
• gastrointestinal problems or food allergies
• seizures
• sleep problems
• an autism spectrum disorder
• a compassionate and sensitive sibling
• friends.

The have's exceed the have not's!  Try this yourself!