Well, I did it. I got over my fear and took Nathan in the Kidwalk to Toys’R’Us. I’d been wanting to do it but quite honestly, I was afraid. Afraid of the looks we would get, afraid of how people would react. So far we mostly manage to go unnoticed as Nathan’s wheelchair looks like a baby stroller, and people are used to seeing older children in strollers. Also, people don’t say much when he’s in the ergobaby because again, it’s not uncommon to see children carried in baby carriers. But the Kidwalk is a completely foreign gizmo and obviously screams – disabled! So I wasn’t quite ready to face that until today. I decided to stare fear straight in the eye and yell my mother warrior roar of defiance.
So off we went to Toys’R’us kidwalk and all and guess what… it went well! Nathan didn’t really take any steps in it but it’s okay. We’ll just keep practicing and practicing and eventually he might be able to do it. The more we do things like this, the more he’ll be motivated to learn to move in it.
One older man came up to me and asked me if he was disabled and told me his granddaugher has downs and he has 2 cousins that are disabled. We chatted for a little bit and he was very sweet. Another guy seemed to stare at us for a while but he was VERY friendly and smiley. I think he wanted to say something but in the end, he just smiled at us and made small talk. Some kids stared at Nathan as if he was a martian and I just ignored them. In the future I might say something.
Other than that, I could tell people noticec but no one else said anything or even looked oddly at us. So – mission accomplished!
Nathan loves being upright and I am excited to use the kidwalk more and more. Instead of using a wheelchair I will probably use the kidwalk when we go out. I raise it up so he’s just dangling when I want to move and I just push him from behind, and when I want him to step, I lower him down so his feet touch the ground and try to encourage him to move by pushing the device forward. Sometimes he takes a step or two, sometimes he doesn’t do anything at all.
We are picking up the Hart Walker on Saturday – YAY! – and I will post pictures of that soon. I am thinking he will do better in the Hart Walker as it’ll keep his feet in proper alignment.
In the meantime, here are some cute pictures!And here is a little video:
So glad it went well. He looks SO GROWN UP in that thing! Not to mention beyond adorable, as always.
Hi Marcela,
Great idea about taking Nathan to Toy’r’us. And glad you were brave and it went well. I was thinking he might like to use kidwalk in something like petting zoo where he could go to different animals and pet them.
Thanks for your tip about the sugary stuff with probiotics. Because my son does have a sweet tooth. I’ll try to eliminate it. My kids names: Anton and Andrea. Maybe next year I’ll try to start a blog, well at least with some pics and comments. I sure like the idea.
Hugs,
Gala
That is so cool that you took it to the store.
I have wanted to take Daniel’s walker but nervous about the looks and me losing control! I guess I have to be in the right frame of mind. He looks great in his walker, and like Erin said, so grown up and cute too!!
Good for your Marcela for facing your fear.
Hey Erin, I know, it’s amazing to see him from a different perspective. He looks so tall and like a big boy when he’s upright on his own! Are you considering something like this for Fletcher? I bet he would love it. He does so well stepping that I bet he would take off on it! Let me know how you guys are doing!
Hi Gala, What a wonderful idea! I hadn’t though of a petting zoo but I love it. I think he will love being at a level with the animals. We have a petting zoo not far from our house so I will take hi.
As for yeast, if Anton has an overgrowth, it’s important to stop feeding it. There’s a great book called Body Ecology Diet. It takes a lot about yeast overgrowth and lists what should be avoided. It would be worth checking out if you have time and inclination.
It would be great if you started a blog so people can check in on your cuties!
Hugs,
Marcela.
Melanie, thanks! It wasn’t easy, it took me a while to get the courage to go but I am glad. The difference when he’s in that kind of setting is night and day. He needs something to motivate him to move, otherwise he won’t make the effort. I bet Daniel would love it! Just ignore everyone else and their stares and comments and just focus on Daniel. I did that today and it worked. I knwo you are a mama lioness but I decided it’s not worth wasting effort/breath/energy over other people’s reactions.
I’m rubbing the Buddha belly for you guys tommorrow! I hope the VEEG comes out clean and that Daniel just had sniffles with no full sickness.