Lessons from Tyler

In the almost 9 years of being a mom, my boys have taught me A LOT... From the quickest way to change a diaper to the best (and most efficient) way to make a mess. They have taught me about video games, super heroes, and all of the Disney Cars and Planes characters. They have even taught me which dinosaur fossils were found where, which by the way, there really IS a dinosaur named Gasosaurus (this of course being one of the favorites in our house).

There are SO many things I have learned as a mom, but many of the most significant lessons have been through Tyler... And since the little man is turning 7 in just a few days, I thought it might be fitting to spend some time focused on him and what he has taught me.

Tyler was the only one of our children who was NOT a surprise... We were ready for him, or so we thought! He came into this world in only 4 hours and a "push and a sneeze" as my husband says. He was healthy and BIG and we were thrilled!

That excitement quickly disappeared as we tried settling into a routine. The boy did NOT like to sleep... Two hours at a time for months and months. The poor couch had a permanent indentation from my body, as I "slept" on it every night. Tyler was miserable, fussy, and it was rare to see a smile on his face. The picture above was one of those few times we could capture a smile.

 

As hard as his first few months were (and even first couple years), those sleepless nights brought some great conversations with God. I had no choice but to talk, to cry, and to listen to God. I learned to rely on God for the strength to get up in the morning (or I guess it was more like to continue being awake in the morning). I learned that even if there was no one else around, that I wasn't alone. God had gotten me through many a sleepless night...

 

As Ty got older, we started seeing things that made us question whether he was "okay". There was no babbling, no gesturing, very little interaction with us or his brother. With a very heavy heart, we approached our doctor about these things. It was confirmed that Tyler had some significant developmental delays, and so we began the journey with Early Intervention.

 

As great as his therapists were (and they were AWESOME!), this was a very hard time for me. Accepting that my son wasn't "perfect" and that he might have significant issues the rest of his life was hard to swallow. But as time went on, and as I continued my late night talks with God, I began to see things differently. I realized God doesn't make mistakes when He creates us. He didn't make a mistake with Ty. He didn't accidently look away for a minute and OOPS, Tyler now has delays. NOPE, God made Tyler exactly how He wanted him to be. And as I fully accepted that, I also learned that God didn't make a mistake when He created me, either. (You can read more about this journey here: God Doesn't Make Mistakes )

 

As Tyler continued to grow and make amazing progress, we were astonished at what God was doing in Tyler. He became more cuddly, more loving, more jovial. His silly sense of humor started coming out. He almost became the exact opposite of who he was his first year and a half. His therapists and I were amazed by his progress, and I knew it was God's hand that helped hurry the progress along.

 

Our cranky, non-cuddly, miserable baby has turned into a happy-go-lucky, cuddly, pleasant boy who brightens everyone's day. The impact he has on those around him astounds me. Tyler loves life, loves people, and loves God. He enjoys laughing and being silly. He cares deeply for those around him. And, although we still have our moments (as we do with all of our children), he is a far cry from his early years.

 

Everyday Tyler teaches me how to be loving and kind to others. He asks for more time on tests for his friends. He hugs those around him who are having a rough day. He is the first one in the morning to joyfully say "Good Morning" and to wish people a "Happy Birthday", or whatever holiday/special might be going on. (And yes, he covers the minor holidays, like Presidents' Day and Groundhog's Day.)

 

When I lose sight of what matters, when I forget to be "nice", all I have to do is watch Tyler and he quickly reminds me what life is all about. It's about saying Hi to strangers just to make them smile. It's about meeting new friends at the park. It's about new jokes and laughter. It's about enjoying life to it's fullest, and I believe Tyler does that whole-heartedly.

 

Tyler has worked hard, persevered in the hard stuff, and has come out smiling! He is thriving in school, and has brightened his teacher's year. As he turns 7, it's hard not to celebrate all of the big (and little) things God has done in Tyler. Tyler has purpose here on Earth, and I know he is making his Heavenly Father proud! He certainly has made his Earthly parents proud!

By the way, this little face is the "I'm not happy with you, but I can't keep myself from smiling at you" face. This is quite a common face for him! (Thank you to Leigh G Photography for perfectly capturing Tyler!)