The Stinky Screwdriver

I work for a school district in the maintenance department.  One day, the plumber that I work with found a multi-purpose 6 in one screwdriver, driver, tool in a plumbing chase (a plumbing chase is the gloomy hole behind a battery of toilets (and a battery of toilets is multiple toilets next to each other)). It looks like this...

"Stinky"

So he pulled it out of where he found it an we proceeded to do somewhat of a victory dance because recently our tools have been spontaneously disappearing on us and this thing was EXACTLY what we needed.  So we asked around to see if it belonged to anyone and no one claimed it so it was officially ours, and I carried it back to the truck.  When I got there I looked at my plumber and was like, "What's that smell?? Did you do something?". And he said, "Nah bra...I don't smell anything!".  So I'm looking around and trying to figure out what stinks...

***SIDE NOTE***
Have you ever noticed how when something smells it's ALWAYS someone else's fault and never your own?  I would think that this has to be the biggest cause of white lies out there....

Anyway...so yeah I look in my pocket and pull out that screwdriver and WOW!!!

It STUNK.

Stinks.

Stank?

Stonk?

Yeah...I don't know what happened to it in it's previous life, but the one end of it that we didn't have flipped up smelled like a skunk vomited sulfur on it...this was my face...

Hoof Hearted

So I took the screwdriver out and cleaned it up and used every liquid I could possibly think of to get it to stop smelling, and eventually the stink diminished.  We have since dubbed that tool "Stinky" (because it still stinks, it's just more bearable) and we use it everyday.

So all that to say this.  I had a thought about "Stinky" the other day, and how someone threw him (I imagine the screwdriver is a dude) away probably because of his terrible stench and lack of appeal.  That stink took nothing away from the tools effectiveness or ability to be used, it just put it in a less appealing state of existence.

  I think about our lives as special needs parents sometimes this way.

My child was born into an existence and state of being that many find extraordinarily unappealing, and often will say...I can't IMAGINE living my life like that...but the thing is, that there really is no difference.  Our life is not some horrible stench to be cast aside like a smelly sock or something, but often I see it.....

It is LONELY being a parent of a special needs kiddo.  You develop this hardness and sometimes become aloof to what is going on outside of your household because you have to constantly advocate and fight for your child.  Sometimes when you talk to us we're just frazzled, or sad, or angry, and on top of that we have to deal with everyone telling us it'll be fine in the end....but the end doesn't come for us...

When you tell someone it'll be alright and pat them on the back and leave, that's it for you.  In your eyes the situation is resolved because it made YOU feel better by telling them that.

When you tell me it's going to be okay and then walk off, I have to smile, say thank you, and wave goodbye.  Then I have to comfort a daughter who is actively suffering and crying out in pain every night...

It makes us hard...

It makes us sad..

It makes us angry...

I know that sometimes we're not the most appealing and comfortable friends to be around, but we do still have a use, as well as a need to be used.

So to those friends and family that see us and know that sometimes we stink, but you love us anyway and let us love you, I say thank you!

And to the rest...well you're missing out...

Also, Aria has been dealing with a crazy amount of pain due to her dislocated hip, but she got a steroid injection yesterday and is doing considerably better.  We hope to continue on the road to a pain free Aria!  :)

Here's a recent pic!

Love you all!

-Salvador