Anybody who has had children can probably appreciate those moments of quiet reflection.

The child has probably been driving you crazy all day. Remember the embarrassing comment made on the bus and how people turned, in shock, and stared right at you? Remember how he could not get his own way in the lineup to the checkout at the food store, and showed a convincing display of being abused, and how you felt that everybody in the store was looking at you (and of course they were)? When you arrived home, he was pretty tired so you put him to bed and within moments he was asleep. You put the shopping away and perhaps decided to make yourself a hot drink and just relax. The pleasure and absolute luxury of a few peaceful moments.

Sometime later you decide to check in on “trouble” and when you open the door, you see a little person quietly sleeping. You see the slight rise and fall of the blanket, and you reflect on your day. You also reflect on the various other challenges that he has presented, but you know it was all worthwhile. You have sacrificed a lot of personal freedom, but it was a sacrifice that you gladly made and would probably make again if circumstances dictated such. This moment of pure calm is so appreciated, and compensates for all the trials and tribulations of the past. Peace ….. perfect peace!

My children have been making their own way in the world for many years now, but I do have a Ray! After a day of trying to avoid tripping over him; maintaining some degree of regularity and consistency in his training; listening to him vocalize his feelings, many of which I can only guess at the meaning; protecting his “space” as best I can when out with him; hanging on to him when his prey drive (read overdrive) kicks in and strained arm muscles are the possible outcome, and reminding him that crowding me and giving me “the eyes” is not going to get him a treat. After a day of that, it is so nice to walk into the living room and see this: I can watch the slight rise and fall of the blanket and reflect on the day. I know that I have sacrificed a lot of personal freedom as a result of adopting Ray. I know that he has not been easy to live with at times (certainly not in his first year here). I also know that I would do it all again. This moment of pure calm is so appreciated, and compensates for all the trials and tribulations of the past. Peace ….. perfect peace!