"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." - Psalm 139:13-16 (NIV)


Monday, January 3, 2011

“Pull up your sleeve buddy.”  Sometimes I wonder if my son thinks his mom and dad are nuts. Like…..are we overly obsessed with the fact that our little guy’s left sleeve needs to be rolled up or pulled up at all times. We often times stop what we’re doing so that we can roll up his sleeve. His left arm is slightly shorter than his right, not to mention the difference in his hand alone, but the length of his arms, makes some shirts fit differently. So….we have to roll up his sleeve. BUT do we just have to?!  I’m wondering if we’d be so obsessed with his sleeves if both of his arms were the same length or if both his hands were the same. I mean…..there’s balance to everything. Are we so conscientious about proving that he doesn’t have to hide his hand, that it begins to become too much?! How do we as parents, keep that balance and at the same time teach it to our little buddy?  He’s at an age where I can tell when we’re working his last nerve……ok, not literally, but he’s learned to express his emotions and let everyone in his world know how he’s feeling. So, often times, we get sighs and huffing and puffing when we’re reminding him to roll up or pull up his sleeve. Does his sleeve length really matter?

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I just found your blog tonight through a link from facebook. I too have a son that was born without a hand. He was born without his right hand. Just like you stated in your post, I find myself rolling up his sleeve as well. I completely understand. Patrick is only 2, will be 3 in May, but I have so many concerns, questions and fears to overcome as a parent to be a better parent to a child missing a limb. Thanks for your blog! I would love to chat and connect and get some ideas, suggestions and advise from another Mom. THANKS, Karen kfmartine@centurytel.net

Unknown said...

Hi My son is 3 weeks old today. We found out about his arm- his lower left arm didn't develop- around 21 weeks. During my time of acceptance this was one of the things I worried about...will I constantly have to roll up his sleeves and/ or alter his clothing? It troubled me then but now I don't worry because he is the most handsomest baby in the world. :-) I will be mindful about not 'bothering' him too often to roll up his sleeves.

On another note, I have been searching websites for quite some time to find other African American families faced with a limb difference in a child. I felt alone until now. I have been thinking about blogging in case there are others who are thinking the same as me. I am glad I found your blog. Thanks.

I would love to chat. dgcaston98@gmail.com