The Ballard Five

 

 
A couple of days ago I picked up the girls from Wanda’s** house after work and she had this funny/awesome story to tell me.

All the kids were playing in the living room because they were putting in new floors in the play room. Evelyn was on the floor scooting around and getting into things and her shirt was raised up leaving her back exposed. Lilly noticed and nonchalantly said, “Evelyn, your spina bifida is showing.” She didn’t say it in a hurtful, teasing way. She was just being matter-of-fact in a  “your bra strap is showing” type of way. You know, helping a sister out. Evelyn has been going there for 6 months and I’m sure this isn’t the first time the other kids have seen her back, but it was the first time they noticed it was different. It paved the way for them to have a conversation about people having differences, and what spina bifida really was. There were some kids that wanted to know if Evelyn would be able to walk, and Wanda told them that she would–that it might be different than how you or I walk, and she could even need braces or a walker, but that she would walk. Sophie then added, “And if Evelyn needs a wheelchair, then we’ll bring it to Wanda’s!” And just like that, the conversation was done and they all went about their business again. I bring this story up to show a few things.

1. Evelyn has the MOST incredible support system! From doctors, to friends, to extended family, to her two biggest fans, Sophie and Lilly–we’re all cheering her on!

2. Differences really don’t matter to kids. Race, disabilities, religious differences, ACCEPTANCE…that’s all learned behavior. We’re not born treating people badly because they are different. We are taught that. But we can also be taught to accept each other.

3. Tact is an art. Lilly doesn’t have much but she’s 3, so we’ve got time to work on that one.

**Wanda is my AMAZING aunt and Evelyn’s Godmother. She has been watching my kids since Sophie was 8 weeks old. She is fantastic with the girls and I honestly couldn’t think of anyone better to watch them all day. Not even myself, because she could run circles around me in the patience department. Seriously…she has a gift! Wanda wears many hats. She is my therapist sometimes. She entertains, she cooks, she teaches, does arts and crafts, and she helps with Evelyn’s physical therapy, too! From day one, she has not shied away from any of the extra care that Evelyn needs and has been right there as a cheerleader and an advocate for her. We love our Wanda!

 

 
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I was having a difficult time getting Lilly to sleep in her bed the other night so I decided to lay down with her. We chatted a little and she started to doze off. I got up and leaned over to kiss her and said, “Get some rest, little one.” Her eyes opened wide, and she pointed at Sophie’s bed and said, “Mama, the big one is already asleep.” Oh, to just live in her head for a few minutes!

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