Yesterday

[Guest guest]

I have debated about whether posting this or not but I am so both frustrated and

in humor over this situation I decided that I will post it. I will first say

that I am not trying to start a debate over child rearing policies or anything

but just wanted to share a little about the personality of my little " princess " .

Yesterday she went back to her medical PT for the first time in about a month.

Last week we needed a doctor's order and before we were just so busy with all

the pre-reimplant appointments and keeping her healthy we just never made it.

Because Annika's balance is so much better it was really neat to see how she was

going to do. Well, for the first time in a long time Annika was able to walk

into the office from our vehichle all on her own(with the walker). She didn't

complain the whole time and was racing with me on the way in. I can say that it

is a fair distance but not managable.

So into the session she went and she had her moments but really had a good

session. She wanted to be carried out of the session. So I have an option. Do

I carry her, the backpack, the walker, my purse or do we wait her out. I told

her that I would carry her out to the waiting area to get her coat but then she

would need to walk. She understood and was fine once I put her down in the

walker and put her coat on. She walked out of the office and made it about 10

feet down the hallway. She then proceeded to start to pretend to collapse on

the floor and throw one of her temper tantrums.

Believe me as her mother I can really tell whether she is too tired to walk or

is she just wanting to control mom and have her way. This was definitely one of

those times that physically she could do what I wanted her to do so I had to

just let her thrown her tantrum. Well, true to Annika's form this was a good

one. It was lasting about 5-10 minutes. She wasn't screaming the whole time.

She would stop look around if anyone was paying her attention and then start

again. Or she would check if I was coming back to help her.

Well, then this couple came out of the office along with one of the secrataries.

They were convinced that Annika was hurt and no one was caring for her. I could

understand that. I was a few feet beyond them because if I stand near her she

will crawl over to me and start things again. I told them that she was just

fine she was just having a little fit(believe me there were many other people

who had walked by this whole scenario with comments like-she's three right?, she

is strong willed right?, she's stubborn?, only to be a child again and think we

can just cry to get our way. " Most people understood completely what was

happening. Considering this is one of the primary children's therapy centers

outside of the metro area this cannot be on uncommon occurence in this place.

The secretary asked me if she needed help up at all and I told her no she could

get up on her own(if I thought she couldn't I would be there, for pete's sake I

am her mom and I would help her to the enth degree if I could!!!). Well, then

the secretary went back into the office and then the couple basically started to

accuse me of child abuse. One comment was " she has a walker for pete's sake she

is disabled!!!! " Well, I wanted to say " no duh " . We exchanged a few other

words and I just didn't know whatelse to say. They walked away and said that I

could explain it to the police when they showed up. She was going or had

called(I don't know which she said) 911.

Right after the couple walked away, Annika stood up in her walker with a smile

on her face and walked the whole way out to the van with a very pleasant

atttitude. Like the past 5 minutes never happened. This is my child. Once she

knows we won't give in she is okay let's go then. And off she goes like it

never happened.

I just couldn't believe this. In the past 3 years of Annika's life, I have

never had to defend anything that we have done with her. I mean I never let my

boys get away with something like this but I am supposed to let her get away

with this because she is disabled? I know she needs more help than the boys

did and believe me she gets it but when it comes to the battle of wills as her

parent I have to make sure that she understands that she can't get away with

everything and sometimes we have to do things that we don't want to do.

Just wanted to share. I don't know why Annika decided to get up after this

exchange. I know that she heard everything that was said and probably

understood some of it. But after it was all said and done I didn't know whether

to scream, cry or laugh!!!

Mom of 4

Marcus 15

13

Jon 11

Annika 3

Bilaterally implant 3/1/04

Hookup 3/25/04

re-implanted 10/28/05-left

spastic diaplegic CP