AUTHOR: Kat and Kev TITLE: But I Can Spell Equanimity... DATE: 10/24/2007 06:50:00 AM ----- BODY:

I once knew a boy who could spell equanimity. He was about 9, blind, had cerebral palsy, and learning disabilities. We were all amazed at his ability to spell a word most of us didn't even know the meaning of. After a few days someone asked him if he could spell cat. No. Dog? Nope. In fact he couldn't spell any other word except equanimity. We realised that he had been taught to repeat the letters as a clever party trick. Man, can I relate. Ellis is currently trying desperately to crawl. He has now done it properly on two occasions, but most of the time he just can't get himself coordinated. It starts with him sitting. He then leans forward and tries to get his legs in position. This is often where it fails and gets stuck. Sometimes the legs do move and he is on all fours. Scooching often happens but most often he just rolls onto his back and screams for his mother. He announces his frustration to the neighbourhood with howls and yells, tears and screams. It is the most irritating, heartwrenching, pathetic and wonderful thing. But man does it drive me crazy. I just want to run in there and pick him up and move him towards the offending object. But I can't. He has to learn. So, I try to remain calm and balanced. I hide in the kitchen with a glass of wine and the computer. I am not sure its working. E-Q-U-A-N-I-M-I-T-Y

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