Conquering the World
I know this isn't work related but my heart is filled with so much joy and wonder that I had to share. We are at Myrtle Beach this week on vacation. I thought that this would be another one of those trips where my family would get to spend time in the sand and waves and I would spend time in the room with Hunter. He has always been terrified of water and would rather "get a room" than anything else. Vacations for me have been ok but it has always been a struggle especially trying to balance it with the other kids. I remember thinking, as I watched moms from the balcony reading their books and sunbathing while their children were in the pool playing, that I would never be able to experience that. For those of you with older children you know what I am talking about. The age when finally you can relax and watch your child play in the pool or spend the night off at a friend’s house. The age of independence. Since his cognitive age is 3, independence is not something that he is able to achieve to the degree of a typical 13 year old.
Well this year I thought I would be ahead of the game and since mom wasn't going with us I would take Hunter's parapro from school to help me with him. I am happy to report that he actually got in the ocean today!!!! The first time EVER he has done this. He let the waves knock him down, he let his feet be buried in the sand and we built a small but respectable sand castle. He also found that he loves the pool. We stayed outside between the two of them for 5 hours!!!!!! He is already talking about getting up early and going to the beach to build a castle.
I often find myself wanting just to be a normal mom with normal problems but then I look at all the wonderful adventures he takes me on. I realize that although my life is anything but normal it is full of honesty, fun and most of all love. I need him as much as he needs me.
One of my favorite quotes is "Hope is not the closing your eyes to the difficulty, the risk or the failure. It is a trust that....if I fail now....I shall not fail forever and if I am hurt, I shall be healed. It is a trust that life is good, love is powerful, and the future is full of promise." Hunter gives me the hope and courage to face life, to fail, to win but most of all, to love.
This is just one more mountain we have climbed and the view from the top is AMAZING!!!!
Margaret Spielman is the parent mentor for Bleckley County.
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