The movie "Forrest Gump" came out 20 years ago this year. I was 12 at the time and I remember seeing it and thinking that it was a good movie. At the time I simply thought it was entertaining, a movie I didn't mind watching, but would likely pick another option if given the choice of movies. In high school and college it was constantly shown on cable television and through these many viewings, I was able to better understand the movie's message of overcoming obstacles. But really, to that point in my life my biggest obstacle had been managing to get out of bed in the morning and go to class. The idea of a true challenge, the kind of challenge that is beyond my control, was not something I had experienced. So I watched the movie. Some parts even made me cry. I got it. But did I really get it?
With the anniversary of the movie I had seen a lot of posts on social media, magazines and the Internet discussing the life lessons, the tear jerking moments and the amazing job Tom Hanks does in this movie. So I decided to revisit this movie when I saw that it was on TV one night. And as I am sitting there watching the movie I slowly realized the real message of this movie. But more importantly and astonishing to me is when I finally realize that Forrest Gump's Mama is the real star of the movie. This young boy was faced with so many challenges and his mother did not see a single one, all she saw was love for her son. She was determined to help Forrest overcome his obstacles and prove that he was not only like everyone else, but that he was meant for great things. And, as we all learn from Forrest Gump's long bus stop story, he certainly goes on to be a very impressive young man and adult, and in my opinion, it was all due to his mother.
I recently read an article where a writer argued against the statement "God only gives you what you can handle". She described the many news stories we hear about parents that mistreat their child with and without disabilities. Stories of neglect, stories of abuse, stories of parents that have given up on themselves and their children. Clearly these parents are not handling what they have been given. In another article I read where in some countries, such as South Korea, children born with disabilities are simply cast away to the street and abandoned. These stories have truly opened up my eyes to the realization that there is a choice to be made as a parent of a child with or without disabilities. Because as a parent you can give up, ignore the child, their problems, disabilities, or even remove the child all together. But another option you can choose, a better option, is to fight. Advocate for your child, be their rock, their shield and most important of all, believe in them and what they can achieve. Forrest's Mama did just that, and with her many slogans she helped him (and us as the audience) become a better person - stronger, wiser and more confident.
My favorite quote from Mama is when she tells Forrest "Remember what I told you, Forrest, you're no different than anybody else is. Did you hear what I said, Forrest? You're the same as everybody else. You are no different." It is this quote that has really hit home with me. It is what I want to explain to Olivia when she is older and asks "why?" I want to make her see that the brace on her leg is just to make her stronger, faster. Olivia is exactly who she was always meant to be and she is simply perfect. So for now, I will love my daughter for exactly who she is and work so hard to make her stronger, wiser and more confident, just like Mrs. Gump did for Forrest.
With the anniversary of the movie I had seen a lot of posts on social media, magazines and the Internet discussing the life lessons, the tear jerking moments and the amazing job Tom Hanks does in this movie. So I decided to revisit this movie when I saw that it was on TV one night. And as I am sitting there watching the movie I slowly realized the real message of this movie. But more importantly and astonishing to me is when I finally realize that Forrest Gump's Mama is the real star of the movie. This young boy was faced with so many challenges and his mother did not see a single one, all she saw was love for her son. She was determined to help Forrest overcome his obstacles and prove that he was not only like everyone else, but that he was meant for great things. And, as we all learn from Forrest Gump's long bus stop story, he certainly goes on to be a very impressive young man and adult, and in my opinion, it was all due to his mother.
I recently read an article where a writer argued against the statement "God only gives you what you can handle". She described the many news stories we hear about parents that mistreat their child with and without disabilities. Stories of neglect, stories of abuse, stories of parents that have given up on themselves and their children. Clearly these parents are not handling what they have been given. In another article I read where in some countries, such as South Korea, children born with disabilities are simply cast away to the street and abandoned. These stories have truly opened up my eyes to the realization that there is a choice to be made as a parent of a child with or without disabilities. Because as a parent you can give up, ignore the child, their problems, disabilities, or even remove the child all together. But another option you can choose, a better option, is to fight. Advocate for your child, be their rock, their shield and most important of all, believe in them and what they can achieve. Forrest's Mama did just that, and with her many slogans she helped him (and us as the audience) become a better person - stronger, wiser and more confident.
Mama's Slogans:
Where was Mrs. Gump when I was trying to wrap my head around the cerebral palsy diagnosis for our sweet Olivia? However, just like in the movie, Forrest needs to run to move on with this life, we all need a way to process the past before we can move on to the future. Acceptance of Olivia's diagnosis was my first step in helping me to move on. In turn, moving on helped me to be the mom Olivia needed me to be.
Amen to this one Mama. People are different, all people. But that doesn't make one person better than another. Teach your children this important lesson, and live by this motto as an adult.
I don't know about you but I have yet to meet two children that are identical in their abilities, even if they are the exact same age, same school, same sex, same anything and everything. With all variables the same, children will still be different. They will develop and learn at different time frames. Who is it that gets to decide what "normal" is anyway? Every time I get a darn milestone email from one of my baby Websites I cringe, "your child should be doing this at X months". Willing to bet I am not the only mom out there that has a child that doesn't perfectly line up with those milestone emails and it is all because there is no normal when it comes to children.
Life IS like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get. I certainly did not foresee that I would have two different therapists in my house two times a week just to make sure my daughter rolls over, crawls, walks, talks, uses her right hand or foot. Life is never what you imagined or what you expected, it is a gamble. Every single choice is a gamble but that doesn't mean you shouldn't roll the dice.
My favorite quote from Mama is when she tells Forrest "Remember what I told you, Forrest, you're no different than anybody else is. Did you hear what I said, Forrest? You're the same as everybody else. You are no different." It is this quote that has really hit home with me. It is what I want to explain to Olivia when she is older and asks "why?" I want to make her see that the brace on her leg is just to make her stronger, faster. Olivia is exactly who she was always meant to be and she is simply perfect. So for now, I will love my daughter for exactly who she is and work so hard to make her stronger, wiser and more confident, just like Mrs. Gump did for Forrest.
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| Olivia at the new Children's Hospital to be fitted for a new brace. 8/18/2014 |
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