A day at the petting zoo and these two buddys had a fun time!  It all looks great in a photo doesn’t it!  LOL!  Getting Andy to go on a little outing is more than a challenge, let me tell ya! 

I don’t do this often, but I really wanted him to join us and have a good time, so I told him we were going for a treat. Yeah, I know, I tricked him – not nice, but can I say, sometimes necessary? So, driving down the street, taking in the sites, I gently mention we will make a quick stop at the park first. In return he gives me “the look.” Oh, people, you get what I mean, right?!!! I’m talking the look that says, “No way I’m gonna do what you want me to do, and by the way, where’s my treat!” Yeah, that look!

As we make our way down the long winding drive I notice my saving grace – a parking spot with a blue handicap sign. Okay, now some of you won’t get this, but others of you know exactly the feeling of hitting the jackpot when you see one of those precious spots right when and where you need it! Woohoo, show me the money! I pull in and there was the petting zoo only a few feet away.  “Look at the ducks!” I excitedly announced to Andy. Ummmm, he wasn’t going for it.  And, Shawn, bless his heart, even pointed to the ducks practically begging Andy to come see. 

A very long moment of silence as we wait and watch. I feel like I can hear Andy’s mind tick along as he considers his options. Then the atmosphere shifts and as Andy is gazing at Shawn it seems they are connecting on a level I’m not privy to, and the miracle comes. Andy exits the car and follows Shawn right over to those ducks, as if that was the plan all along. Of course, by now, I’m practically exhausted from the emotional effort, but I pull myself together so I don’t miss this miracle (or the ducks!)

As parents of children with disabilities we absolutely yearn for these times when our kids are engaged in our world with us. Sometimes the pain of trying to reach these milestones is almost more than we can bear. And, so when it happens, great joy!  Great, unspeakable, joy! 

We loved the ducks! And even wandered around taking in the sheep and the chickens and then fed the goats! Beautiful, peaceful, and just another regular Andy-Day-Every-Day!

And, then we went and had a treat!