Never Give Up
Yael ran in her first track meet ever yesterday. I wasn’t there to see it. The meet was in the city and I couldn’t juggle the schedule of my other girls to be there. Thankfully my dear friend Laura was there and captured a few moments on video for me to see.
Yael ran in the 100 meter dash and the 1600 meter event. She finished dead last in both events. I watched the video of her in her final lap of the 1600 this morning and you know what? I was grinning from ear to ear. Even better, when she called yesterday to tell us about the meet she told us that she was so proud of herself. She came in dead last. She didn’t care. She ran the whole distance without stopping. She didn’t give up and she crossed that finish line. That was what made her proud. That was how she defined success. She was tired and it was hard, but she kept on going with her teammates cheering her on along the way.
She doesn’t give up this kid of mine. She never has. Her life has been a long distance run, with a hell of a lot of bumps in the road. But she doesn’t focus on keeping up with the pack. She just puts one foot in front of the other and keeps on running, pushing & striving. She wants simply to do her best. No more & no less…
I’m a proud mama today. Maybe other parents won’t get how I can celebrate a last place finish. What’s the big deal? But if you are raising a kid with special needs… you get it. She finished. And she imparted a little wisdom along the way. On those days when I want to throw my hands up in the air, throw in the towel and simply cry UNCLE, I’ll think of that video footage of my girl coming around the last lap and pushing her way to the finish line… and I’ll dust myself off and keep on going.
Talent will not; nothing in the world is more common than unsuccessful men with talent.
Genius will not; unrewarded genius is a proverb.
Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts.
Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.” (Calvin Coolidge)
YESSSS! Way to go Yael!
This post just made my day.
I’m sure that your love and support have enabled her strength and determination, so give yourself a pat on the back for being encouraging parents. It isn’t always easy, but it’s obviously worth it!
I will remember this when Andrew does his swim team meets in June. I am thinking he will be dead last as well. But he wants to join the neighborhood swim team. He says “even if I come in last, I still get a trophy”. I think it is a ribbon but either way…he just wants to be there and take part and do it….and if no other parent understands my amazement, excitement and of course tears….they are very lucky to not know the challenges of having a child with Autism. Thank u for your post and congrats on her 1st race. Well done Yael.
I wrote this post filled with pride & awe… in the evening, the dynamic duo of Puberty & Autism got bored & reared their ugly heads. I went from feeling like a proud mama, to a total failure. Every time I think I”ve got this special needs parenting gig down… I hit a new bump in the road. But, I’ll take a little inspiration from this post and after a few more minutes of beating myself up~ I’ll dust myself off, forgive myself & start anew… Thanks for the kind words y’all… they were much needed & appreciated this morning.