Cerebral Palsy Alliance

Archive for July, 2008

The Trouble with Toys

It can be particularly difficult when, as a father, you observe the frustrations of your children while performing simple tasks. We have to remind ourselves, we are on the outside looking in and, for those children who are born with a disability, they know, no different.

When Daniel was a baby he would struggle with playing with toys in the way the toy advertisement demonstrates. In his mind the advertisement immediately established what was possible, then he had to deal with the frustrations of what he could achieve. The consistent gap in his abilities versus the imagery of what was possible caused frustration for him so Penny and I set out to reduce the level of frustration, and replace it with a cycle of achievement and positive reinforcement.

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Be Prepared

At four years old Daniel, his brother William and I were playing on the floor when William took his first steps. Penny and I were overjoyed with excitement, as you are when your kids take their first steps.

What we weren’t prepared for was Daniel’s reaction. Later that evening, as I was watching TV with Daniel nestled closely at my side, he turned to me and said, Why can’t I walk like William?

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You Get One Chance

I am writing this blog while sitting in my lounge room watching over Daniel as he slowly recovers from a head cold. I don’t want to be too far away in case he needs me to wipe his nose or catch vomit, needs a drink or to go to the toilet, etc.

The rest of us recovered from our colds in a day or two, however Penny and I fear when Daniel falls ill as it generally impacts on him 2.5 times worse than us.

Read more: You Get One Chance