My toddler, your toddler. Your normal, my normal. What's similar, and what's different. A glimpse of what to expect for parents of babies who are newly diagnosed.

What is it like to raise a child with cerebral palsy? Is there a difference between raising a child without physical limitations and raising a child with a disability? I did not give much tought into these questions until now. I love my child, it doesn't matter what her physical limitations are, I am there for her to help her with whatever she needs, just like I would if she was more independent like other toddler her age. When we are in our very own nook, that is our home, life is normal. I see no limitations, I do what I need to do for her. She is held most of the time by either my husband or I. Now... once we step outside of nook, our normal, our comfort zone, everything changes. Explanations are often needed, questions arise, we step out of normalcy and become two parents who walk around with a large question mark right above our heads. There is the visit to the grocery store... We go grocery shopping always with a stroller because I tried sitting Sophie in the basket and one too many times she tipped sideways and hit her head with the iron bars. No, I wasn't being an irresponsible parent letting my baby get hurt, yes I was dumb but I was also ignorant to the fact that she had cerebral palsy at that time and thought trying over and over again made sense because using the front basket was appropriate for her age. Needless to say, I no longer use a shopping cart. I now place all the groceries or as much as I can fit in the stroller hoping that I am not accused if shoplifting one of these days. I have already prepared a clever response, if I ever were accused of such a thing. I try to do most grocery shopping with my husband's help so we can have both the stroller and the shopping basket. There is the visit to playground... I wrote about my playground experience on a different post but will address on here why I dread visiting the playground without my husband's help.There are the toddlers running around and the mommies who brought them to let go of energy so that they have a nice nap later. Then there is my toddler who sits in my arms and is amazed by everything there is at the playground and tries to pull away from me over and over again because she wants to walk, run away, like those kids, but she doesnt have the slightest clue that her legs have other plans. Swings are great, our favorite equipment at the playground. Since Sophie can now hold her head pretty well, its an effortless activity and she really enjoys it. The slide is another story, it is Sophie's favorite equipment. We can either slide down together or I can hold her under her arms and slide her down, I after three efforts I am usually tired. There is dinner at a restaurant... Would I like a high chair? hmmm... "no thank you" she will sit in her stroller. Are you telling me that I cannot have the stroller next to our table because it stands in the way for people to walk? hmmm... I hate having to explain my daughter's medical history to the restaurant staff but here is where I have no choice but to say, "waiter: I need the stroller next to me because my daughter needs to be in it. I know that you offered that we use a high chair, however, she cannot sit in a high chair. She has cerebral palsy and therefore is unable to hold herself in a sitting position." I know that this is just the begginning of a long journey where many questions, looks, judments will arise. As Sophie gets older, everything will change because society will look at her and expect her to do certain things, and those things will only get more complex as she grows. I have faith that she will gain some independence at one point or another. Whether it'd be sitting independently, walking, etc... I cannot help but think tho, at what point will this happen, will it ever really happen. I feel the need to educate myself, I feel the need to think of clever and informative ways to inform those that ask and judge. Tell you what, you know how you worry that your toddler might fall off the bed while he/she is taking a nap? I can rest easy on that ;)