“Gage Can Play With Me”

We recently stayed with some friends out of town and were overwhelmed by the amazing hospitality they poured out. We shared several delicious meals, had a comfy place to sleep and had hot coffee around the clock. Not only were our friends gracious hosts, their kids were warm and welcoming to ours too. Caleb was over the moon that his new buddies were willing to share their toys! The night we arrived, as the adults sat around the kitchen table talking after dinner, the kids were playing in a bedroom. Gage was hanging out with the grownups at first, as he often does, but at one point I took him back to the room. We were greeted by a three year old who told us “Gage can play with me.” He then proceeded to show Gage how to use his Fisher Price CD player and made sure he had a disc loaded. It made my whole night.

It’s always interesting to see how kids interact with Gage. I’ve felt emotions all over the spectrum as I’ve witnessed it. Joy when he’s included. Frustration when he can’t quite keep up or safely play with everyone else. Sadness when I’m helpless to do anything about it. I used to have a hard time with all the questions or comments I’d get from kids about Gage, which have ranged from why he can’t walk or talk to how messy he is when he eats. Now I can see they are just curious. They tend to get especially inquisitive when their younger siblings, who they know are younger than Gage, start to meet milestones he hasn’t. It still stings from time to time, but it’s actually refreshing how honest kids are…they just say whatever they’re thinking. Gage is one of my favorite subjects, so I’m happy to tell kids more about him and his different way of doing things.

Lately, there have been so many instances that leave me feeling warm and fuzzy about Gage’s interaction with other kids. At a friends’ house a few weeks ago, their little girl kept insisting “that boy” come play with her and the other kids. Another friends’ daughter recently found endless entertainment taking turns bopping a balloon with Gage, just meeting him right where he is and enjoying something with him that he’s able to do. Gage’s buddy Owen was recently caught talking on the phone with him by his mom. I get a kick out of the fact that, of all people, he was pretending to talk to Gage, who doesn’t have any spoken words. At school drop off and pick up, I love the way Gage’s classmates greet him by name or let him know “your mom is here!” And on a daily basis, my heart is warmed by the way his little brother Caleb shows him affection (when he’s not ripping off his glasses or accidentally stepping on his face.) The positive interactions Gage has with other kids are just another reminder of how many good things we have filling up our lives.