Jojo is a big girl. She turned four in March. Big like “what a big girl!” and also big like physically. She is weighing in at 40 pounds. This is quite average for a typical four year old. For one that isn’t walking yet, it is a lot of weight to carry. My back is constantly sore. We can’t do hikes anymore with Jojo in the backpack. Last time we did I was rubbing Icy Hot on hub’s shoulders afterward. Jojo’s teacher reached out and said it is time. They are having trouble getting her around the school campus and on and off the bus. It is time for an adaptable stroller.
An adaptable stroller is something between a stroller and a wheel chair. Adaptable stroller is a mouthful and I’m not ready for wheel chair so I’ve been calling it simply “wheels”. We got rad purple wheels. These new wheels are a harbinger of change. The bus route Jojo was on could not accommodate wheels so we were moved to a new route with a new driver and a new set of fellow riders. Now a bus pulls up every morning and the driver lowers a massive ramp. We wheel Jojo on the ramp, it rises, she is rolled into place, and her wheels are buckled right into the bus floor. Her co-riders are all in wheels. This to me feels like a huge shift. If we were in the minor leagues of special ed before – if there is such a thing – we are most definitely in the major leagues now.
The driver Dwayne is jovial man. He has a big frame and a bigger personality. I have come to look forward to our morning chats while he is maneuvering the ramp and wheeling Jojo on the bus. He sings in a gospel choir in addition to driving a bus full of special needs kids. He has a big smile for Jojo every morning. He is one of our angels.
Jojo has grown accustomed to this new way of getting on and off the bus. She loves the bus so she tolerates the wheels. Anywhere else though, it is a hard no from her. She wants to be carried. I took Jojo and her brother to the discovery museum near our home. Far too heavy to carry, I brought the wheels for her. She screamed and howled as I pushed her from one play area or activity to the next. I plastered a smile on my face as everyone stared. A two year old throwing a tantrum is no bigs. It is expected. As the parent, you receive looks of sympathy. A four year old throwing a tantrum does not garner looks of sympathy. They are inquisitive, bewildered, judging. In a moment of insecurity and twisted logic, I was thankful for the wheels, a signal that Jojo has special needs. That her carrying on is not a product of deficient mothering.
Since getting her new wheels, I’ve been thinking about what other new things may come. We already have a handicap placard for our car. Will we need to buy a new car that can accommodate the wheels? For now it folds up and fits in the back of our SUV but not our smaller 4 door sedan. Should we build ramps into the house? For now there are only a couple small steps we have to maneuver the wheels up and down. Will she walk before we need to do any of these things? I don’t know. And. I hope.
Jojo The Strong 