Life Outside The Box . . . Why did the chicken cross the road?

Erin to Mom: "Why did the chicken cross the road?" Mom to Erin: "I don't know, why?" Erin to Mom, "I asked YOU!" Mom to Erin, "I know, Erin, but this is a joke and you are supposed to tell ME why the chicken crossed the road." Erin to Mom, "I have no idea!"

This is one of the numerous, interesting and funny conversations Erin and I have on our many miles riding in the car together. Most of these deep conversations come from seemingly out of nowhere, all of them shake me from my deep thoughts ~ worried thoughts ~ regarding the economy, work issues, and life issues in general, that keep my mind way too busy. So, when God wants to slow me down and bring me back to earth, He pokes Erin and says, "Hey, ask her why the chicken crosses the road or ask her how babies come out when they are in their mommies tummies, etc. I'm always grounded with her take on things.

Erin was born September 17, 1989. She will be 20 years old tomorrow. She was clinically diagnosed at age 16 with Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome. Only 1 in 300,000 children are born with this syndrome. Erin has strong autistic tendencies attached to her syndrome, which provokes relentless questions, without the benefit of true conversation . . . without the benefit of and satisfaction of having the question fully answered . . . at least to please Erin. So she will ask the same question over and over. Let me tell ya, that can wear you down ;-p I've come to realize, however, the Lord is simply saying to me, through all of this repetitiveness to SNAP OUT OF IT!

Erin's one of the smartest people that I know. Though Erin's IQ score hoovers around 45, she can, nonetheless, work a 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle, never looking at the picture and not fully understanding what will emerge after the puzzle is completed. Sometimes the puzzle is upside down and she will examine it quizzically and ask, "What's that?" There have been a couple of times that Erin has worked the puzzle FACE DOWN. And I, her mother, struggle with a preschool grid puzzle, unless both puzzle board and puzzle piece are numbered, that is. I'm not a total idiot, although Erin would argue that rationalization ;-p

Erin graduated from high school in June. She has no place to go, no place to work, but she really wants to go to Appalachian State, or more recently, East Kentucky University (she has friends/cousins going to both). She does not understand why younger family members and friends are allowed to "move-on" while she's stuck at home with her parents. However, she's still convinced that she will be a doctor; not a nurse, mind you, because nurses are not the boss . . . doctors are the boss. Erin would know, she's an expert patient. A few years ago, I took Erin to see my gynecologist. As Dr. K and I talked about some problems Erin was experiencing, Erin, uninterested in answering his questions and bored with the whole scenario, looked at me, very matter-of-factly and clearly spoke up asking, "Is this where you come and take your clothes off?" I'm quite certain Dr. K had not been subject to that type of questioning before. These are the times in my life that I MUST need humbling. However, I might add, I was quick in my response to such embarrassing question. I replied, "Yes, and this is where Aunt Niece comes and takes her clothes off, as well." I refused to be the only naked image the poor doctor could conjure.

Erin is our gift. Erin is our centering. Erin is our pumice stone. I, by nature, am not a patient woman. Not at all. When people call me patient, I laugh to myself because I know the Source of my patience. Romans 5:3-5 says, "...we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." I'm on my way to becoming a woman of character . . . from simply just being a CHARACTER!

Erin has taught me that fearing tomorrow is stupid. No, I'm southern, so will word it this way, "Fearing tomorrow is stoooopid." She has no concept that anything but GOOD is coming her way. She never fears the opinions of others; she puts the compassion for others above her own desires (most times). And as long as she gets John's Country Kitchen fried chicken on Fridays with her dad, things are pretty much perfect in her life.

Thank you, God, for Erin . . . and happy birthday my beautiful, intelligent, sweet and caring little woman. God's going to show up for you in awesome ways, my love!

Your Mother and Proud of it!