By Andrea Roux Gardner. My 4 kids inspire me. They are truly amazing little people. Each one over coming a great challege life handed them. I want to tell you about my #2 son though. He is the most inspiring person in my life. He has so many challenges in life. He suffers from Sensory Processing Disorder(SPD). A real disorder that is usually ignored or underestimated. His brain pathways cannot handle all the sensory info that we receive on an every day basis. Things that we take for granted or ignore over-stimulate him to the extreme. A simple trip to the store can overwhelm his little body and send him into a ball of crying child. A normal life is just a dream for him.
He goes to occupational therapy and martial arts. These help him learn to deal with his SPD so he can live a happy and full life. OT and MA are hard work for anyone, but for him it is double hard. He is overcoming his disorder. Everyday he has to make the choice to overcome it. He will have to do this everyday of his life. He also has to overcome the judgement that is passed his way everyday by ignorant pople who just do not get it. He is only 6 years old and has more determination than most adults! Because of his everyday hardships he is the most empathetic person I have ever met. He is incredible! He inspires me to advocate for recognition of SPD, to fight for his rights as a special kid, to be more empathetic, to be a better mom! Most of all he inspires me to simply be an overall better person.