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When you bring a baby home from the hospital, you have dreams. You have hopes for that baby. While you are sitting awake at 3 am feeding that baby for what seems like the 25th time that day…you imagine what your child will be doing at different ages. What will her first words be? Will her blonde curls still be there when she gets on the bus for the first time? Will she play soccer or softball? Will she be homecoming queen? Will it be Harvard or Northwestern?
But then one day, you will notice that something isn't quite right. She isn't talking like everyone else's kids. She doesn't look at people like everyone else's kids do. She doesn't "get" stuff like everyone else's kids . People will try and make excuses for it. "She's a girl….she is your second kid…..everyone is different " And then one day you will sit at a meeting and they will tell you what you suspected all along. Autism. So now, your imaginations change. Will she ever talk? Will her blonde curls survive riding the bus for an hour to a special classroom in Woodstock? Will she even understand the difference between soccer or softball? And as for homecoming queen or college…..those dreams just went "poof."
Our kids with special needs don't always get to do what everyone else does. Usually that is not a good thing. But one thing that our special kids do get to do is participate in the Charmers squad at Layton Athletics. This is a cheerleading squad made up of special needs children and coached by Kelley Layton. And something about putting on that uniform and going out and performing in front of hundreds of people is truly magical. They CAN do it. They CAN memorize lines of the cheer. They CAN do the stunts. They CAN. For these kids, and their parents, it is so beautiful. A place where we don't have to fight the system to get good things for our kids. A place where there are no judgments made…everyone has issues…we just deal with it. Most importantly it is a place where my daughter has made friends.
As a parent, I have also gained from being a part of the cheer team. I never would have met these amazing people had it not been for the Charmers squad. These moms and dads are champions for their children and are wise, kind, and patient beyond any parents I have ever met. I have so much to learn from them.
I also have learned something from my daughter. I must admit, I was leery of allowing her to be a cheerleader. Could she do it? Could she get it? Well, let me assure you…..she does get it and she can do it very well. She yells the cheer, her hair survives "the bow", she understands the difference between a stunt group and a tumble spot. As for homecoming queen and college………..just you wait and see.
