I didn’t think about it too much, although it did cross my mind. I’m a granny with a special needs daughter. I have always done everything with Anna so why would this be any different? Well, it is. But different is not bad, it’s actually tricky.
Whenever and wherever Paul and I go, there is Anna. She is a sweet tag-a-long. Now she’s the tag-a-long when I’m being granny. Thank goodness she is not walking or running. I’d love her too but that ship has sailed. If she did it one day, fine, I’d be doing races with her. But she is not and it helps in my granny role. I’m glad that I’m not chasing two at a time.
It’s actually never been just me alone with Anna and Elsie. But it happened, I had them both. Alone. I wasn’t worried, I am a Warrior. Bring it on.
I was happy Anna was in her bed. She loves to lay and play in her bed. She’s quite content in her bed. This helps as I place Elsie on my hips and feed the dogs, talk to her about what’s fun in granny’s house, go to the basement and feed the cats, etc. She just rides on my hip while Anna plays in her bed. Then it’s time to eat, Anna still in bed. My dogs love the bits of macaroni Elsie throws on the floor for them. My Aussie mix is gentle, taking Saltines out of Elsie’s sweet little fingers.
Now it’s time to take her home. Okay, it hits me, this will take some engineering. I can’t put little sweet crawling Elsie down while I change Anna’s diaper, comb her hair and get her into her van. What’s a granny to do? Ah, I think I’ll strap her in the wheelchair. As soon as I do it, Elsie laughs and just sits there watching Anna’s TV on Disney Channel. My goodness she looks so tiny in that chair.
Anna is ready but how to get them both in the car? Okay, Elsie will have to go first. It’s hot as the dickens today. So I go outside, with Elsie, start the van and crank on the air. I come inside, still with Elsie waiting for the van to cool, check on Anna, then go back out and put Elsie in her carseat with the air on. Now Elsie is out of the chair and I get Anna in her chair and roll her into the van. Both girls in my van and I’m ready to go. This has taken planning. I’ve babysat with Anna and only Elsie at her house but not mine, alone and having to take both of them back home. But as usual I am a Warrior and now I am a Warrior Granny. I think of the moms out there who have maybe two children with special needs. There is always a way to do things, we just have to think outside all the boxes, and reorganize them.
I know Elsie loves Aunt Anna and someday she will ask me “What’s wrong with her?” I’m actually excited for that day. I can’t wait to hear her questions. I can’t wait to tell her how unique her mom is because she supports and cares for them both on occasion like me. We do this because we love deeply. We do this because we are the ones who don’t want to stop because a different life was given to us. It’s fun to think outside the box, it’s fun to find ways to take care of two girls. It will be fun to see how Elsie wants to help with Anna. She already loves her bed, her wheelchair and her rattles. The saga continues.
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