The Big Things

It seems like a lot of energy is focused on paying attention to the little things.  Parenting blogs, self-help books, Facebook memes – they remind us life is lived through the little things.  I agree.  But the little things are often BIG!

Last week, I had one of those “big things” moments when ordering diapers for my five year old daughter who has global disabilities (I’ve written a little about her here and here).  First, I have to give a shout out to the Tranquility company.  When you have a growing child who has no interest in toilet training, it is really hard to find products that fit everywhere.  Once they grow out of size 6, Pampers makes a 7 – only available online.  But the next jump is pretty much to adult diapers.  You can cinch down the waist, but the leg holes are still way too big.  Tranquility filled the void with a Youth Extra Small size.  But there are sometimes overnight leaks and escapes; after all, diapers are for temporary storage and collection.  A twelve-hour sleep can get messy… and gross… and even disgusting. 

I learned early on to keep a smile on my face when cleaning up and making the change.  My daughter is one of the most sympathetic children I know.  If someone else cries, she is right there crying at his side.  So if I was visibly grossed out, she knew, and would get upset.  On particularly messy days, I call my friend and co-blogger, Holly, who helps me laugh through it.

But last week, when ordering the usual, something caught my eye.  I usually ignore Amazon suggestions like “buy this too and pay this much”.  But I am so glad I didn’t!  I discovered overnights!  I was inordinately excited.  I texted my husband and sent him the link.  I told Holly about them.  “These will change my life!” I exclaimed.

It may seem mundane, but it’s awesome.  Like the first time my daughter said, “Thank you.”  I had given her a snack at the table and she spontaneously said it.  It wasn’t the words; it was the multi-step process.  I gave her something she wanted, she was grateful for that, and she wanted to let me know she was grateful.  It was a “big thing”.  Huge even.

So when folks tell you it’s about the little things, know they are really the big things.  Getting inordinately excited about overnight diapers, something hilarious the three year old said at the dinner table, finding that shoe that has been lost for two weeks – these are big moments! Let them be big things and increase your joy; because who doesn’t need more of that?

(I don’t plan on making all my posts about life with special needs, but this is turning into a nice outlet for me!)