tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7852841906010174729.post8798250326419058020..comments2023-04-18T04:24:39.193-05:00Comments on Today is Where Your Book Begins...: Dumb DogJenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16134973524794977697noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7852841906010174729.post-19198491244652869352011-06-21T09:28:47.598-05:002011-06-21T09:28:47.598-05:00I feel ya Jocalyn! I think the will to fight ebbs...I feel ya Jocalyn! I think the will to fight ebbs and flows. I'm in a "down" time right now too. But I think it's because of summer. I just want to relax and have fun. I'm tired of being on guard all the time. But you know your mama claws will surface when they need to. You're amazing and will rise to the challenge when needed.<br /><br />Shannon--I'm so glad to have "met" you online. I remember being where you are in your journey. You encourage me as well.<br /><br />And Kelly, sometimes I think we're one in the same. Thanks for being such a wonderful friend.Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16134973524794977697noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7852841906010174729.post-37925839562873773502011-06-20T13:56:42.900-05:002011-06-20T13:56:42.900-05:00Very well said, Jennifer. Another example, too, o...Very well said, Jennifer. Another example, too, of how isolating it is to have a family member with a disability. Why can't I sit there and laugh at something that the whole rest of the group is laughing at? And how can they find that story so funny?? Ugh. Makes me feel alone and weird. That's the hardest part for me. . . And that's the part that makes me cynical and convinces me that "they" will never understand my life.kelly in Texashttp://www.ourordinaryday.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7852841906010174729.post-58490079872209827762011-06-20T07:33:23.441-05:002011-06-20T07:33:23.441-05:00My life and perceptions have certainly changed a l...My life and perceptions have certainly changed a lot over the last three years too.<br /><br />I admire your grit and eloquent ability to keep raising awareness and advocating for others. <br /><br />I've been very discouraged with myslf lately. I feel like I'm losing my want (or maybe need) to fight. Why does everything have to be such a fight? It's overwhelming, and I feel my thoughts change daily depending on my mood. <br /><br />I just want people to respect people. No matter their abilities, religion, sexual preference, race, gender...Let's just all treat each other the way we want to be treated! <br /><br />And I probably would have laughed at that story! Because, as you know, I have a REALLY extraordinary dog also!jocalynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07313874191250865765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7852841906010174729.post-24725343941937063162011-06-19T22:50:29.967-05:002011-06-19T22:50:29.967-05:00Such a good story/realization! Of course, I was t...Such a good story/realization! Of course, I was totally relating the beginning of this story to my own son & my own life. Except, my take on it would have been less about people thinking my child was retarded and more about how people take very little to zero time to think about, care about or help families with disabled children. I'm not saying that to be mean or critical of them...I'm saying that because it is true...and I know this because I never blinked at a disabled child before my son, much less thought about all that child and family endure day to day. But no matter the take on the story or the circumstance, your blogging is definitely expanding people's understanding of others -- just like your friend said. I think with the age of the internet, and particularly social utilities like FB, we have a wonderful tool at our fingertips to help others expand their views about people, about life, etc...and all of that fosters understanding and acceptance. I am not a blogger because I just can't do posts like you & others can, but I try to use FB to do much of the same. I think we have many callings as parents of special kids like ours. I think we should continue to search and tap into as many of those callings as we can because if we succeed, how awesome to know we left this Earth with such impact on other people & the world. As much as I miss my previous life...my typical mom of healthy children life...I am sure that I am going to be a better person & leave a positive mark once I am able to come to terms with it all...because of my son. You are already succeeding in leaving your marks.Jason and Shannonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07379737424913764092noreply@blogger.com