The kid recently asked me if I wished I could walk. And I know we’re supposed to build up suspense in our writing, but I told her no. We’ve talked about disability awareness before, but she’s never asked me this question. I’ll start this by saying I used to be an ambulatory wheelchair user. That is a thing, it’s not some kind of miracle when wheelchair users get out of our chairs. Sit down. Growing up, I would walk in…
If we were having coffee these days, it would probably be whipped coffee on a zoom meeting. I’ve tried two of those, zoom meetings. With the camera off. That might defeat the purpose or whatever. But I don’t need to see the size of my pores or feel bad about my chins. A few weeks ago, I might have mentioned that my kid cut my husband’s hair. I suggested that she go from the ends, but what do I know?…
Sometimes I ask you guys what you’d like to read more about around here. And sometimes you tell me. A frequent request is more about my every day life as a wheelchair-user. Hi. I can do that. And so, during my recent assessment for a new wheelchair I figured out that I’ve had my current chair for going on 14 years. I thought it was 16, but we all know Math isn’t my thing. Anyway, that’s a long time. Too…
If we were having coffee, I’d ask how’re you doing? I know it’s been a while. Picture this, on Monday. ‘Isla, get dressed, please.’ ‘I hafta finish my toast.’ Good point, go with that. ‘Isla, get dressed now.’ ‘I hafta finish my juice.’ OK, vitamins. ‘Isla, get dressed.’ ‘Well, your hair is either grey, or the color of poo.’ I got nothin’. ‘Mummy, do penguins have a good sense of smell?’ Survey says: maybe. And so began our morning routine…
When Isla started nursery school, I stuck around for a while on her first day. She held my hand for a beat longer than usual, looked at me, and then went to play. From my wheelchair in the corner, I watched her play and tried not to mess with her moment. That day, she did things that made sense to people who were three. Playing alone together with other kids. After a while, a boy not unkindly asks my daughter,…
