I was talking with a few moms whose children have special needs. We were talking about how some things are just normal for us that our normie friends just don’t get.  Which makes sense, those of us in the conversation have older normie kids. We all admitted that until we started down a different road, we had no clue either.

Yes, this life is more complicated than the one I expected. But in all seriousness, life with Bridget is not that much more complicated than parenting Abby.

• I always know where Bridget is. This week Abby has been in Europe and couldn’t get her phone to work to check in. I knew her plane was delayed, but not if she made her connection. Until 3 days later when I got a picture of the Eiffel Tower.
• I have to clean Bridget’s diaper every morning. I have to remind Abby to brush her teeth and use deodorant.
• I have to convince both girls to eat the dinner I cooked and threaten them when they are older I am coming to their house and having a hissy fit after they worked all day.
• I have to convince both girls that chicken that I cook is actually better and more chicken than the chicken nuggets they would prefer.
• I have to make sure both girls are dressed appropriately.
• I have to tell Abby that rolling her eyes is a form of disrespect. I have to tell Bridget when she says “What the heck is going on with you?” is not respectful, either.
• I have to find ways to engage both girls, to get them off their electronics and be a part of their world. (Okay, Abby is easier in this respect).
• I have to make sure that they choose safe friends, ones that uplift them and support them.
• I have to make sure they keep their unique sister relationship. It’s not what most have, it’s different and awesome.
• I have to worry about boys and heartbreak.
• I have to worry that there will be one day, one of them will read this blog and be upset with me. More so Abby, when she reads about me telling the world about having to remind her to wear deodorant.
• I have to navigate both girl’s educational experience.
• I have to find ways to make both girls independent, strong woman who can take care of themselves. More so in Bridget’s case, but based on how many times I have to tell Abby that she cannot get to Europe by bus I worry about her independence too.
• I have to teach both girls how to manage their money.

Life with Bridget is more complicated. I have to figure out therapies, medical treatments, special education, teach her how to play and fight with insurance companies.

Yet on the whole, the every day living with Bridget isn’t that much different than life with her sister.

Both make me crack up on a daily basis. Which makes it much easier to navigate the normie and not so normie life we lead.  Sometimes it is the excitement at finding Devil Dogs.

Always  when it comes to chicken.

(Shared with permission from Abby)