Slapped In the Face At a Party

Yesterday my family threw a party for my wife’s Mom and Dad who are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary.  They are an amazing couple… but that deserves a blog post of its own.

These things are not fun for me, I have to be honest.  They are stressful and exhausting.  There was a photographer there taking both candid shots and posed pictures.  When our turn came to stand with the family and pose for a large group shot, my wife gave her standard warning to the photographer, “just to let you know… my son will only stand still and tolerate this for a few seconds.” 

The photographer, a nice lady about our age, replied, “I understand.  I have one too.”

It struck me instantly and rattled around in my brain all day… Did she mean she had a child with special needs too?  Could she sympathize with the challenges we endure just to attend family functions?  Did she also know the feeling of constantly living on edge that her son was going to melt down… wander away… knock over the cake… or destroy the DJ equipment?  Then it just kind of hit me…

No, she just meant she had a little kid about Eric’s age who also hated having his picture taken. 

She didn’t see my son as different… as special… as anything but a spirited little kid at a family party.  In that instant, she gave me one of the best compliments and hardest slaps in the face I have received in a long time.

He’s just a little kid… and a pretty cool little kid at that.  Relax and enjoy the party.