Who can deny that there is power in love? Unfortunately, some doubt the power of a father’s love, despite the widely held belief that it is the power of God’s (The Father’s) love that gives humanity hope and keeps us alive (John 3:16). Luckily, denial of something is not proof that that thing does not exist. Hardly anyone will deny that there is power in a mother’s love. Why is that? I believe it is partly due to the misconception that [...]
My son, despite having cerebral palsy, wants to do and learn so much that it actually excites and worries me at the same time. My concern is that I am not always capable of understanding how to help him unleash his full potential. I have seen enough to be convinced that most other children are like this as well. They are driven to learn, explore, and do well regardless of the obstacles. I know a 10 year-old girl through the [...]
After Dakari was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy (CP), my wife and I accepted the possibility that it may take a very long time before he walks, unassisted. Happily, he eventually did at 2 ½ years old, after his first Botox shot at Boston Children’s Hospital. Despite CP affecting his motor functions, particularly walking and speaking, he still enjoys physical challenges and trying new things. So, when he discovered martial arts, through movies, he was hooked and wanted to fight me [...]
Telling my son not to smile is like telling him to hold his breath. He’s always happy. So, when I asked him not to smile, in order to take a visa photo, he was just confused. It is great that laughing, and being happy, is his natural state. I truly hope that never changes, even after he meets the ‘real’ world. It’s having that ability to remain happy=content despite what’s going on around you that keeps you sane, and able [...]
It’s great when our children make smart and ‘profound’ statements, or offer their solution to family or global problems, or a combination of the two. One day this week, Dakari asked for my help in writing a note. He really just wanted me to give him a sheet of paper. I did as he requested and went about my business. Within 5 minutes, he presented me with this note… In case you’re unable to decipher the message, it simply says, [...]
One of the goals Dakari’s teacher has chosen for all her first graders this year is teaching them how to fill buckets. And no, not with water, or any other type of liquid, but with good thoughts and feelings. She is using the book, Have You Filled a Bucket Today? – A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids by Carol McCloud (illustrated by David Messing). Dakari is really into the concepts brought out in the book, and so am I. [...]
When you have a child with speech impairments, you naturally learn alternative ways of communicating. Although sometimes I like to think that it’s because of my own abilities why I understand Dakari so well, I know otherwise. The more committed you and I, as fathers, are to this process, the more proficient we’ll become. In other words, time teaches many things, including how to communicate effectively with our children, speech impairment or not. Effective communication with our children provides them [...]
Because of Dakari’s disability, I always say that I want him to be very smart and intelligent. What I meant by that was for him to be book smart, able to pass exams, and successfully complete university. I realized, not early enough, that there is a big problem with those expectations. Firstly, they were born out of fear. I worried that he will not be able to do much with his hands and feet. Therefore, his brain and mind have [...]
It’s finally here! After an extra year of waiting and further delay, mostly owing to a hurricane threat, Dakari is finally a first grader. He greeted this challenge with open arms, and of course, the biggest smile on his face. As his father, I am committed to being there with him every step of the way. It will take some sacrifice, but I know it will be completely worth it in the end. Someone recently advised me to allow the [...]
Like many other fathers, I’m always telling my son, Dakari, to do his best. For a while, I thought by saying that I meant for him to always try hard and not give up. The problem with that, for Dakari, is that he’s always trying hard. He already has to try very hard to speak and communicate; to walk and maintain his balance; to write and control his movement; and to be neat and clean. The fact is that most [...]
Recently, while having breakfast at the table, Dakari solemnly announced, “Daddy, mommy said you’re her king.” Of course, I was very excited to hear that. So, I told him that’s great, and I couldn’t stop smiling. It’s great when your spouse speaks positively about you to your children. The funny thing was that he looked very sad, and I couldn’t understand why until after he responded, with tears in his eyes, “I want to be mommy’s king.” I started telling [...]
I want my son, Dakari, to excel academically. This is very important to me, especially because of his special needs (cerebral palsy). I always say that his physical limitations mean that he has to be very smart – a good thinker and problem solver. So, until recently I felt that I had to teach him to read, do math, and write as a matter of urgency. It’s as though I was racing against time. I had to stop. This approach [...]
Subscribe to RSS
Follow us
Follow us