Additional Needs

Not a Care in the World

Posted by Rebecca Toal on 10th September 2021 Additional Needs, Advice & Support, Disabilities

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Today was one of those great all-around summer’s days in Greystones, Co Wicklow. Not a drop of rain all day, the sun graced the skies and the temperature was just right- not too hot, but lovely and warm for just a casual t-shirt combo or light summer dress.

We are down visiting my family for a few days, and have two cousins' birthdays and a whole lot of catching up to do as we haven’t been down for seven months (thanks a lot, COVID). We always try to squeeze in lots of walks to the park and the beach while we’re down too.

Brielle, my 10 year old with cerebral palsy and complex needs due to prematurity, just loves the wiggle car. Cousins have a blue one they kindly keep around for when she comes to visit, and we have a pink one back home. I don’t know how much longer she’s going to be able to convince her legs to pull her on it and bend the way she does, but somehow she still manages and is great for zipping to the playground or taking to the newly built marina walkway for a good scoot.

It’s amazing the sense of FREEDOM  it gives her. There’s not much she can do for herself or independently and she just loves to be able to get on her car and GO! I did have to help steer and change her course many times during the walk, and sometimes walk her hand-help with one hand whilst carrying her little car in the other.

I didn’t mind apologising to fellow walkers when she zig zagged or cut into their path – to be honest people are generally kind and understanding when they see a little girl with special needs out on a tiny ride-on having a great time without a care in the world!

It was lovely seeing another lovely girl with special needs earlier today. Was one of those times I was seriously tearing up at the sight of a this daddy and daughter duo.

I was walking Brielle after lunch in her Delta buggy down to the beach.  I heard music all of a sudden but didn’t see any street musicians so was wondering where it was coming from. Then I saw them- a daddy and daughter duo locked arm in arm and singing their hearts out to music from a little personal speaker playing an folksy rendition of “You are my sunshine, my only sunshine”.

Absolutely melt your heart sight- the daughter around 15 or 16 years old,  whom

to the onlooker had obvious disabilities, walking a bit unsteadily linked in her Dad’s arm, a look of pure delight and joy on her face, not caring at all that she was singing off- key, walking down a crowded seaside pavement.

For in that moment, she was just a happy teenage girl, holding onto daddy’s arm and having a great time in the glorious sunshine- not a care in the world.