Yesterday Shelby had a speech evaluation appointment down at CHOA. The eval went well and I was happy to have some dedicated time with the speech therapist to discuss Shelby's future. We believe that she will need another surgery often called a p-flap to help her with her speech 
progress. He will decide in about 3 months if we are going to do the surgery and when.
Back to the title of the day, she knows. Yesterday was the first time that I realized Shelby knows she looks different. When we were in the waiting room, she saw a little boy there with a repaired cleft lip like hers. She got very excited and walked right up to him and said, "Look Mommy he has a palate lip like me!".
For some reason I was immediately saddened. I know that wasn't how I should feel, but I did. I want Shelby to be proud of the way God made her and for her to know that she is beautiful. And this she was as the excitement in her face was genuine to see another person "like her". However, I guess I realized that even though I see her beauty, reality is that others will not :( I know that she will have her share of teasing throughout her life and for that I am sad. I guess I just didn't realize that she already knows that she is "different". So now it is my job to teach her that "different" doesn't mean "bad"!!!
7 comments:
It's gonna be hard at times for ALL of these kids, because they are all "different" from thier parents... I'm sure that you will be able to help her deal with that... so much of how she is treated will be determined with how she FEELS about herself - I'm sure you will do all you can to build her self confidence!!!
Aww, that brought tears to my eyes...she is a beautiful little girl!
God made us all unique and Shelby's beauty shines both from inside her soul as well as outside. She is a gem and we love her dearly.
That would have been hard to hear. As you said though, the goal is to get her to see that she is different, but to still know that she is beautiful and special.
I tryed to leave a comment last nigt and didn't even know what to say. I am so sorry "she Knows" because is she really different, No. She is and has been one of my very favorite little girls. Sweet Shelby.
So glad we found you all via the feedjit website.
Our firstborn is also different and beautiful, inside and out.
We also go to CHOA (Scottish Rite) for pediatric cranio-facial services.
God bless you all.
She is beautiful! Don't ever let her forget that!
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