How are we raising our kids???

Are we raising our kids to be compassionate, loving children of God?  Or are we raising selfish bullies who cannot resist the opportunity to taunt other kids?  I will be the first to admit my kid is difficult.  She has special needs, is impatient, struggles with social cues, she is anxious, bossy and desperately wants other kids to like her but has NO idea how to accomplish that.  She has neurological problems.  While no one else knows this, what she gets in return is mean, selfish kids who make fun of her or worse will play with her when there is no one else around, then talk about her behind her back.  It kills me to watch her in our own neighborhood, just wanting to be included, accepted and kids are so awful to her.  And judging by our experience in baseball and basketball, their parents are no better.

Where does this come from?  Are we so desperate to be "better" than everyone else that we lack the empathy and compassion to function in REAL society?  Is this who we WANT our kids to be?  Do we WANT our kids to be the obnoxious Dad or Mom at Little League who demands their kid pitches or always starts?  Really?  Don't our kids deserve better? 

It doesn't matter if our kids have special needs, are shy, athletic, whatever...everyone deserves to be treated with respect and kindness.  Kids can be so mean.  I'm so glad we decided to homeschool, given Grace's issues and the society in which we live.  If we put her out there, it would break her spirit.  I will never do that.

Is this what we are really meant to become????  How very, very sad.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Two months ago, my daughter, now 8, was diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.  We were blown away.  On one hand, we now had neurological proof that something was amiss.  On the other hand, my daughter will struggle her entire life result of her birth mother's selfishness.  Grace's brain just isn't wired like others.  She hides it well, but struggles to understand the world around her.  She's my impulsive, no filter, few social skills, active, anxious, mouthy and incredibly intelligent little girl.  I'm just so sorry we didn't see this sooner.  As I look back on the last 6 or 7 years, I so wish we new.  I would have done so many things differently.  But I can no longer look back, I must look ahead, for Grace.

We are facing thousands in therapy including, visual, speech, OT, and psychological.  It is so hard to watch your child come to the realization that she is different.  She is already anxious, the thought of her brain "not working right" is staggering for her.  The thing is she is very intelligent.  I have come to find out that there is a HUGE difference between intelligence and functionality.  She processes sight and sound differently than most children due to the neurological changes in her brain.  And to fine out that all these issues can be related to attitude and behavior both answers questions and creates a helplessness in changing anything.  Where do we go from here?

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time; enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; taking, as He did, this sinful world
As it is, not as I would have it; trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;that I may be reasonably happy in this life
And supremely happy with Him forever in the next.
Amen.