Welcome Jennifer!  I'm Linda, 36 with mild/moderate spastic diplegia  
CP.  I actually am working on my doctorate at Towson in MD and work  
there part-time.  If you are close to there and ever want to grab  
lunch while I am on campus, let me know. (I live in PA, though, and  
am only down in MD 2x a week).

Now I certainly haven't dealt with being immobile, but I can tell you  
I recall very well when I finally figured out I was different than  
the other kids when I was in 7th grade.  I went through about 2 weeks  
of self-pity and then realized I better get over it because all the  
crying in the world wasn't going to change who I was.  I certainly  
credit my "go get 'em" attitude to my parents who were there to  
encourage me.  They taught me to excel at my strengths and not focus  
on what I couldn't do.  (Thus why I ended up being an elementary  
teacher and now college professor -- learning is definitely my  
thing!)  So, my best advice is be there for him, listen to his  
concerns, don't make false promises, and encourage him to focus his  
energies on something he can do.  Oh, and unless he has some  
cognitive deficits as well, don't think he is too young to get it.  I  
have worked with kids that young and they can comprehend that they  
can't do things like other kids do...you just have to keep the  
language direct and simple.


Linda Macaulay





On Mar 15, 2009, at 3:09 PM, Jennifer Hoffman wrote:

> Hi my name is Jennifer and I have a 5 year old little boy named  
> Johnathan who
> has CP.I am looking for support groups and people who understand  
> what I am
> going through with him.He is im mobile and is now realizing he  
> wants to be like
> the other children and walk and play sports and this is a very  
> tough time for
> both of us.So I have been on the computer most of the day today  
> looking for
> support groups.We live in Maryland.
> Thank You,
> Jennifer
>
> -----------------------
>
> To change your mail settings or leave the C-PALSY list, go here:
>
> http://listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?SUBED1=c-palsy
>


-----------------------

To change your mail settings or leave the C-PALSY list, go here:

http://listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?SUBED1=c-palsy