When the World Sees My Son the Way I Do – Finding Cooper’s Voice

From small things to big things.

Even something as simple as riding the bus.

See, I worry a lot. About everything. Especially when he’s not with me.

When the bus pulled in the driveway after his first day of school this year, I was waiting as the big doors opened. My first question…’how did he do?’

See, as a mom of a kid who has struggled in the past, and still does at times, I was ready. I’ve built up this armor you could say. Waiting for the negative. Waiting for the bad that happened.

But instead, I was met with two smiling faces. Both were men. Both older. Both happy.

‘He did wonderful!’ the driver said. And the para, he said something that brought a lump to my throat.

With a huge smile and kind voice, ‘very nice boy you have here.’

Tears sprang to my eyes. And then Cooper came from around the seat and launched into my arms.

See, he is a very nice boy. He is smart, and funny, and kind, and loving, and wonderful. I know that. His dad and family knows that. But so often, many of the people in his world don’t know that. They see challenging. They see behaviors.

See as parents, we often have to describe our kid’s challenges. We have to talk about, and list, and discuss, all the parts that are difficult. We do this for services, for schools, for benefits. And while it’s necessary, it’s sad too. Because all I want is for the world to see his amazing parts.

I don’t get a lot of compliments about my kid. So, I make up the difference. He knows how amazing he is because I shout it from the rooftops. I celebrate him daily.

But wow, it was amazing to hear another person say something so simple, so sweet. That man probably has no idea what a huge thing that was for me.

‘Very nice boy you have here.’

‘He is a very nice boy. The best really. Thank you sir.’