There Is A Rainbow

I am married with 5 children and 2 stepchildren. The ages are 19 down to 2. The two younger children are from my second marriage. Tyler and Mikey two adorable yet totally different children. Tyler was born with PDD/Autism. He is now 4 years old and Mikey although only 2 was diagnosed with Early Onset Bipolar II. Having two disabled children has it blessings as well as it's tears. When Tyler was born I knew in my heart that something was wrong. The doctor's kept saying no he's fine. They couldn't explain the things that Tyler would do or wouldn't do but they would always assure us he was fine. I couldn't except that answer and being very analytical began searching for answers. What I found was alarming to say the least but I couldn't give up. My son suffered what appeared to be absent seizures. He wouldn't touch anything, he could never be put down, he never slept, never ate the way a growing baby should. So after continuous trips to doctors he was finally diagnosed with PDD which falls under the Autistic Sp I have read, researched, called anyone who I thought may know something about both of my younger children. They have both been put on medication to ease some of the problems associated with both illness'. The one thing that all this has taught me as a parent is that love truly is unconditional for your children. I love my older three just as much yet these two little guys have brought so much more to our family. As stressful as it can be when Mikey says I love you your heart melts. Tyler who only ever says I like you has a smile that lights up the whole house. I have learned to be more patient with my children all five of them. I take pride in their smallest accomplishments and beam at the larger ones. The three older children have learned to be more tolerant of their younger siblings that in itself is a blessing. They help with their therapies and get just as excited when one of the boys accomplishes something they have struggled with. Having the boys has been a learning experience for us all. There is a reason why we were chosen to have these boys. Disabled they may be but they have taught our family more about love and tolerance than anything or anyone I know. They both continue to grow and meet each challenge as it presents. I no longer feel sorry for them or our family or myself as a parent because there is a rainbow and these two wonderful children are it.

By Sharon N...

Contact us with your story and if you win you receive a our ModemMoms Gift Basket! editor@modemmoms.com

© 2002, All rights reserved