"Welcome to Holland" A Mother's inspiring words on life's unpredictable paths...

When asked what it is like to have a child with a disability, Emily Perl Kinglsey wrote a beautiful poem entitled,

"Welcome to Holland". http://www.journeyofhearts.org/kirstimd/holland.htm  

It has touched me in so many different aspects of my life.  For those that do not know me, I tend to work off of lists and need everything to be "just so".  So yes, there are Post-It notes everywhere in  my house!  With four children, extracurricular activities,being a first-grade room Mom,running two home-based businesses, a Girl Scout troop and a Tastefully Simple Team to lead, trust me when I say I HAVE A LOT OF LISTS!!  That being said, I still consider myself to have some flexibility.  I understand that sometimes life throughs me a curve ball...a detour.  I still reach my desired outcome (usually), I just take a round about way to get there.

So what happens when you're traveling down life's Highway...let's call it Lakeside Blvd, and without warning cones, "Men Working" signs, or any flashing yellow arrows, the road comes to an abrupt halt?  There are no posted detours.  You find yourself standing there, feeling safe and confident 30 seconds before, now feeling completely lost.  This is much like the feeling when a child or family member is diagnosed with an illness.  I first met this impass when my 18 month old son became suddenly very ill, without explanation. Countless doctor appointments, hospitalizations and 12 specialists later, we've found our way to a different path for him.  A year and a half ago we came to another impass when a family member was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. Truthfully, we sat very still, hoping it was all just a mirage at first.  Surely we would blink and the road would be back and we would be on our merry way.  No mirage.  So we started looking around and seeing things differently.  Paths started to come into view that had always been there, but never noticed.  So we pulled away the branches, put on our hiking shoes, and started on our new "off-road" adventure.  Now this new path did not have all of the same stops that we would porbably have seen had we stayed on "Lakeside Boulevard". But in return, we came across some breath-taking scenery that we would have never seen had we stayed on the original course.

Emily Perl Kingsly reminds us that sometimes life's unexpected journeys, although difficult and tiring at times, can still be beautiful and well worth the trip.

Having a child or loved one with a brain disorder or mental illness often takes us down the path less traveled.  We often feel we're alone on this path while "everyone else" is back on Lakeside Boulevard.  Look at it this way, you're not going to get caught up in nearly as much traffic...you are not bound by pavement as to where you must go...it's okay to go at your own speed.  Yes, it's a different path, but believe me, you are not alone on it.