I get in trouble if I am being naughty.
When I get in trouble, everything stops for a while.
The normally noisy house falls silent...
I don't get in trouble very often.
This is what happened, one time, when I got in trouble:
It was at dinner time and I wasn't eating. I was waving my hand, trying to hit the dinner bowl out of Mum's hand. I was spitting out each mouthful of food.
(It is tricky with me... I can't come back and help myself to food whenever I like.
I have to be fed. My food has to be mushed. I have to eat at dinner time.
Because of my cerebral palsy, I need a high calorie diet. I have to eat dinner.
If I don't eat, I could end up needing to rely on a gastrostomy feeding tube. That is one thing we desperately fight against. I like my food too much!
And, I like eating with my family and friends.)
And, so... Because I was being silly at the dinner table, I got in trouble.
My Noisy Sisters fell silent.
The grown ups all looked at each other (and tried not to giggle).
I waited to see what would happen.
Mum told me she loved me, but that I had to eat my dinner.
And so, I did. I could tell this was serious business.
(And, I was hungry.)
When I was tiny, Mum and Dad already knew they wanted me to grow into someone that people like. They knew they could not let me use my disabilities to get away with being lazy or rude.
They never let me use my disability to get away with anything.
Mum and Dad want me to be respectful, patient, resilient and grateful.
And so, sometimes, I get in trouble.
It doesn't happen often, but when it does, it surprises all of us!
Now that I am getting bigger, I have learned to drop my bottom lip, if I get in trouble. I have even learned to cry real tears, if I get in trouble!
The adults turn away, so I don't see their faces. They are super proud of me, (for showing my stubborn side and for sharing my opinion) but they want me to learn to do good things.
The other day, I got in trouble at school. I was talking too much (because I had exciting things happening. But, that is not an excuse!)
I was warned and warned and I still didn't stop talking.
I got in trouble!
Mum and Dad were super proud of me and very happy that my teacher knows to expect that I can listen and follow instructions. They were happy she was confident enough to tell me to behave and give me consequences when I made bad choices.
But, they were also disappointed in me and I got in trouble.
Sometimes, I do get in trouble.
It's not often, but when I do... we all know it's serious.
Cerebral palsy isn't an excuse for me to be naughty.
#dextersreality #cerebralpalsy
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Dexter's Cerebral Palsy
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Who is Dexter?
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