Education | Lessons from my daughter

We all do it.

What if I didn’t do this? What if I had done that?

What if we didn’t have Emily?

…

I would have gone back to school and get a degree… And another… And another one.

I’m learner!

I would have collected promotions and experiences and probably put in for a transfer oversea.

I would have seen other parts of the world.

I would have been sleeping at night.

My pay check would be earmarked for my bills and my personal purchases… Oh the wardrobe I would have!

Sounds delightful right?

….

My workaholic career driven mind might have made me delayed having a baby.

My husband might not be my husband…

My friends might not be my friends. Sure, I would have other friends but…

…..

I love my friends

I love my husband

I didn’t go back to University… But that doesn’t mean I didn’t learn anything.

I’ve learn many things, I just don’t have diplomas to show for it.

I went to the school of life, the school where you are thrown right into it and you either drown or learn to swim.

I learned to swim.

I learned about many medical professions, some of which I didn’t really know anything about.

I learned about therapies.

I learned about slowing down.

I learned about celebrating success that are not measured by society but rather measured on personal accomplishment.

The learner in me is happy 🙂

I married an awesome guy who is also an awesome dad. He has flaws but so do I. (I’ll deny ever admitting that)

My husband makes me happy.

Because I married a great guy, I’ve been able to build a name for myself and although we still haven’t left Canada… I have a career.

I love what I do. My career challenges me and makes me happy.

If we didn’t have Emily, my life would be different. I would probably be happy but I wouldn’t be this happy.

Emily has taught me so much.

She’s my hero.

If we didn’t have Emily…

We would never had put a kiddy pool on our deck and I wouldn’t have seen this…

I can’t imagine not having this memory!!!

Lately, my blog posts haven’t been as much about Emily’s syndrome…

They have been about Emily.

Our trips, make-up, fashion, art and so much more…

I didn’t avoid her syndrome…

I just, sometimes, forget about it!

It feels good to forget about it!

Than, out of nowhere, it hits me.

Emily will be 17 in June. If she had been in school in Quebec, like I did, this would mean, going to college in the fall of 2015.

When I was 17, I moved over 1000km away from my home to pursue my studies.

I had a boyfriend and had my driver’s license.

I could manage groceries, pay bills, use public transportation and study hard. I wasn’t a good cook but never starved.

I learned to cook eventually.

So, sometimes, I forget about Emily’s syndrome.

I love seeing her for who she is.

I love remembering our vacations and thinking about the next one.

I love helping her get ready in the morning, helping with her hair and trying to teach her about skin care and make-up.

What I even love more is when I ask if she needs help with something and she says no.

Over the last year, she has learned to put her dishes in the dishwasher, start the dishwasher, makes tea, start her shower on her own, start the washer and dryer, comb her hair and even made her own pony tail…

She played baseball at the Rogers Center in Toronto and slowly started to ride horses without a horse handler 🙂

Her reading is improving and she’s interested in learning how to cook!

This week she started making her bed!

Most of those things are quite insignificant for “regular boring” kids but when you have an exceptional daughter like mine, those are spectacular achievements.

Slowly but surely, she is getting older…

Slowly but surely she continues to prove that her diagnosis of “not walking, not talking, not feeding herself, not showing emotions, not recognizing us…” was more of a worst case scenario rather than a sure fact.

Some new babies being diagnosed with cri du chat syndrome, are still being told about all the things they will never do. Some are being told they will not live to be 1 year old.

I want the world to know about Emily. About her syndrome and about her successes.

My girl is awesome and sometime I prefer to talk about her awesomeness rather than dwell on her (and our) struggles.

It makes me happy and I wish it brings happiness and hopes to parents everywhere. Regardless of the diagnosis, what your child will achieve will bring you joy. Regardless of the struggles, you will find happiness in the smallest achievements if you allow yourself to see them and celebrate them.