Perfection Should Be A Four Letter Word.

I have decided to stay on the topic of perfection and talk about how others perceive perfection in children. When we have or adopt children we all hope and pray for the perfect child. Most of the time children are born perfectly happy, healthy, and into loving homes. Despite tantrums at normal developmental milestones and routine childhood illness we are blessed with "perfect children.

What happens though when something goes wrong? When a child is born with a physical or mental disability? What or how do we react when then child we have wanted so badly is less than perfect? I know of a couple that had twins, one twin was born healthy, one twin with down syndrome; the down syndrome baby was put up for adoption. Why was that baby less perfect than his or her twin? I don't have an answer but I think part of the problem is our society's obsession and perception of perfection.

I am the mother of a special needs child. My child looks happy, healthy, beautiful, and carefree. On the outside she is your average 3 year old. On the inside her little brain says something very different. Before the age of 4 months our little baby, whom we adopted at 2 years of age, was a victim of severe abuse and neglect at the hands of her biological family. For almost a year no one person recognized that something was very wrong with the baby.

Flash forward almost 2 years and multiple doctors we now know that our "little" baby has permanent brain damage, Sensory Processing disorder,and she is currently being assessed for ADHD and other conditions. We see numerous physicians, therapists, and a psychologist. No one can see that something is wrong with our little angel. Society only sees the little girl that can't sit still, the little girl that yells a little too much in public sometimes, or doesn't always do what we ask the 5th, 6th, or 7th, time.

Despite many negative reactions to Paige I have learned to use people's unpleasant comments as a means to promote foster care/adoption. I am a tiger when it comes to protecting my girls. So few people know exactly how many children are in foster care, what foster children look like, and that they can be so young. Cute little girls surely can't come from such horrible circumstances.

Even though our baby girl is not your typical 3 year old we would not change our minds about raising a special needs child. Paige has been Our blessing and Our joy. God NEVER gives us more than we can handle. Our day to day life is not always easy but no one person's life is. My journey with Paige has strengthened my love and faith in Jesus Christ. Her needs have taught my oldest daughter patience and compassion.

The greatest gift in life we have received has been this tiny life, helpless and alone, broken, but worth saving.

Psalm 8:2"Out of the mouthes of babies and infants you have established strength BECAUSE of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger."