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Look how far YOU have come!

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Sometimes we are all a little bit too Irish.

We just can't take a compliment. We look at our feet, shuffle uncomfortably hoping that the nice person would just go away and leave us to our lives. It's so Irish.

Recently the Lodger visited a neighbour with his grandmother (the Dodo - old extinct bird, her joke, not mine) and he had a great time. 
The Lodger having a go on the neighbours tractor!

Later that evening my wife received a text from that neighbour saying how she had the pleasure of entertaining the Lodger and that he was a breath of fresh air. So far nothing new to me, the Lodger is pretty amazing.
The next bit is the bit that caught my attention:

'While I appreciate there are many difficult times he really is a credit to his Mum and Dad.'

Firstly I read it and thought that's nice but I'm Irish so I don't really know how to take compliments but when I thought about it I realised that the Lodger is great because of us. 

And sometimes it's nice to just sit and reflect on that. We're not doing a bad job. With all the complications, stress and difficult times that go with the high paced lifestyle of PWS it's very easy to just forget how far you've come on your parental journey. And yes I am talking to all you parents out there looking at your feet and shuffling uncomfortably.

Sometimes it's just the right time to pat yourself on the back, close your eyes, and to reflect on what you have achieved. Yes our lives are hard and always will be but its sometimes worth just giving yourself a kind moment.

I recently got into triathlon but that's a story for another day. I learnt to swim just before Christmas, just over 4 months ago and this week swam 180 lengths over 3 sessions. That's 4500m. 4.5 kilometres! Something 4 months ago I couldn't even imagine. 
And yes, now, I took it all for granted. Because I'm Irish and that's another thing we do. We don't give ourselves enough credit.
The Lodger supporting me at my first triathlon! 


Until I read that message about the Lodger and it got me thinking that we should embrace our achievements no matter how small and no matter how insignificant too others. Because they are achievements and we deserve to celebrate them. Not take them for granted.

Achievements like all the tiny Lodger seeds we've planted and how those seeds have made our lives and the Lodger easier in just tiny little ways. Achievements the Lodger makes but wouldn't have if we as parents werent there to guide him. Achievements in all aspects of our lives as parents who didn't get to plan on a life like this.

So on this night of reflection and thought I suppose we need a moral.
The Lodger and I... Look how far we have come!

You should appreciate yourself for what you have achieved. The small steps, the little goals, the things that make your life easier in tiny little ways.

And you should enjoy the warmth of a heartfelt compliment and take it as it's meant because you just look silly staring at your shoes.




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