You might have noticed that Meg is in a wheelchair.
It’s true that she can’t walk or move her hands in the normal way, but this in no way, shape, or form inhibits her from being a rockin’ (and rollin’) mom!
Let’s get some of the common questions answered asap…
Question: Can Meg do “mom stuff” like hold a baby, change diapers, dress/undress and all of that?
Answer: Yes to all of the above! Meg has been a stay-at-home mom for all three of her girls. Whit absolutely helps out, but Meg is there for the every day needs and does not need help with these things as she has everything in her home accommodated for her to be the mom and do the “mom stuff.”
Question: That’s great, but can she feed them a bottle also?
Answer: Yes! She can make, heat, and feed her babies bottles.
Question: Okay, but can she put them into a crib?
Answer: Yes. Her crib is specially accommodated for her to roll under and change her baby’s diapers and put them in the crib.
Question: Well that’s good, but can she push her wheelchair while she’s holding a baby?
Answer: Yes! There is a video here of her doing just that with her older child, but for tinier babies, Meg secures them to herself with a stretchy band (like a baby wrap – other moms use them, too). This enables her to always hold her babies no matter what she’s doing.
Meg is a safe and great parent. She can cook and clean and bake and drive… and paint and go to the park and all kinds of “mom stuff.” Most importantly, she can open Popsicles (see video) and Halloween candy. Moi importante. In this whole big, bad world, the only thing she really *can’t* do is stand up. This also means that, sadly, she can’t teach her kids how to dance. But she recognizes that other people can teach her kids how to dance. Her job as a mom is to teach them that they still do, no matter what this life throws at them. #keeponrollin
Question: Okay. That’s nice and inspiring and all that, but is there anything she really just can’t do? Be honest.
Answer: Yes – she can’t lift an infant car seat into or out of a car. Like the little ones where the babies lay down and it looks like a basket for small humans. That is beyond her physical abilities. She manages this by not taking her little ones (when they need to ride in this kind of car seat) out by herself. Thank goodness for grocery delivery and grandmas! Meg can buckle and unbuckle a toddler car seat just fine by herself, but by this age, Meg’s independent children can already do it by themselves so she seldom does. Her oldest, Zula, was unbuckling herself at 2 1/2 years old. Meg’s disability paves the way for her children’s abilities to grow.
Another task Meg won’t take on is bathing her babies. She probably *can* do this, but she chooses not to. So she’s there ready with the towel while Whit bathes them.
Meg is wholly unoffended by questions, so if you want to talk more about this, please reach out! She is happy to tell you all about herself and her abilities!
Here is a message from her:
I completely understand the questions and concerns about the fact that I am in a wheelchair. It’s true, I can’t stand or move my hands. I’m what’s called a C-7 quadriplegic and that’s a reality. But I have relearned to do pretty much everything from picking my nose to French braiding my daughter’s hair. It’s not preferred for me to be paralyzed, no one wants to be a wheelchair-bound parent, but I’ve actually discovered something very beautiful on this side of walking. My disabilities seem to have created room for my children’s abilities to grow. My three girls are particularly ‘able’ for their age. My kids have ample opportunities to do things for themselves – not because I can’t do them, but because I’m not tall/nimble/fast enough to work around them so if they want to do ____, then they do it and I am patient and “walk” them through it. My oldest could do full loads of laundry before she was 2 years old just because she wanted to be with me when I was doing it (but I couldn’t work around her). So I had to be patient and teach her what to do. And she can do it. And much, much more. All three of my girls can do so many things. If I could walk, I’d be just like other parents and do things for my kids. There’s nothing wrong with this, of course, but this wheelchair provides me with a front row seat to watch my kids transform into productive humans right before my eyes – while they’re still little enough to ride around on my lap with me. Please visit my website and social media to get a better glimpse of my life and contact us with all of your questions!
Much love,
Meg
