The Otte's

Some times 5 year olds can teach the world everything they need to know.

 Our cousins were here celebrating Denali's 9th birthday.

We don't get to spend as much time with them as I would like, but we see them a few times a year.

The boys are so interested in Quinn, and do a great job talking to her.  They want to see how she eats, how she gets her meds, how she goes to the bathroom (we are putting boundaries on some things, to their dismay)  her bedroom, all of it.

They don't understand how she talks all the way, but they do a great job showing her love.  I can not thank God enough for Denali and Isaiah, for being great role models that love on Quinn and show the boys how to love on her.  I'm also so thankful for Quinn being so patient and willing to help teach folks how to be compassionate and accepting and loving.

This morning was one of those experiences that I wish everyone could be lucky enough to see.

We were having breakfast out, before going to the zoo.  Quinn got pancakes, as she loves them.  Eating for her is a mixed bag.  Some days she does great, and sometimes she is to busy paying attention to other things and is not paying attention to eating, and will choke on her bite.  Well with the boys and all the excitement, she did choke.  Thankfully she has a great cough.  She will turn red, and cough and cough, but thankfully she can cough it out.  Snot comes out too and it's not pretty, but thankfully she can get it out and be ok.  This is a bit of a production, and I'm sure folks around us, might be uncomfortable witnessing it, but for us that is life.

Well, her cousin was sitting next to her.  He has been super excited to talk to her, and open doors for us, and even hold onto her chair.  However this choking thing really upset him this morning.  He was not sure if he could look at her, and had to turn away.  He got tears in his eyes, he really was going through a lot of emotions.  (I was too, as I don't like to see anyone embarrassed of Quinn and not want to be around her.)  After I got Quinn cleaned up, her cousin had already calmed down.  Denali came around and gave Quinn some love, as Grandma gave our cousin some love, and he saw that Quinn was ok, and after just a few moments and a quick conversation, he was ok with Quinn again.  

It was so interesting to see him go through all these feelings as a 5 year old.  Having a cousin who is not the same, she talks different, she has a big chair, and a few other things.  She is different from him, and that is ok.  It's ok to be different.  It's ok to feel uncomfortable sometimes.  It's ok to cry when things are frustrating.  It's ok to talk about feeling uncomfortable.  

Most importantly it's ok to be different.

The best part was, he did not ignore her.  He did not move away.  He talked about how he felt.  He saw that she was ok.  He gave it a bit of time, and he accepted that it was uncomfortable, but that was ok, and we all still love her, and she is a tough cookie!

As we go out to the zoo or the library, or all around the world of ours.  I forget that everyone is not use to Quinn.  We do get the double takes.  We do hear the "mom look at her".  When that happens, I love to hear how it is handled.  The best situations are when the parent or child come over and talk to Quinn.  The kids see that our situation is different and different is ok.  Some parents talk about how she has a cool chair to get a round and that's ok.  

Some parents shush their kids, that makes me sad, let's talk about it and see that it's ok to be different.

Most kids get it.  Kids want a little education, and to hear that it's ok and they can accept things for being different.

We all have our different burdens we carry.  I wish we could all be more like our 5 year old cousin.  If we don't understand let's talk.  It's ok to get emotional.  It's ok to be uncomfortable, and it's ok to learn that we are not all the same and accept each other for who they are and what they can bring to the world.

I am so thankful for my family.  For Denali getting up and loving up on Quinn after a choking event.  I'm thankful for Grandma to be there to say, it's ok.  I'm thankful for a few moments where all these weird feelings can run through our minds, and the innocents of a child can put into perspective that yes, Quinn is different, and moments will make him feel uncomfortable, but be able to accept it, and continue to care about her.

If only all of us could accept each others differences and love each other they way I saw that happen this morning!

It's ok to be different!

If we could all just learn, regroup, accept, and love each other, the world would be pretty amazing!

What a gift!  I love my family!