Why did I say that?

Since I won’t have another opportunity to post on Leap Day until 2016……..

Last night I went to a basketball game at the high school Kinley will be attending assuming she survives the many perils of middle school.  I was chatting with a pleasant gent sitting in front of me and he asked if I have any kids that go to the high school.  My response was “I have a special needs daughter who is 11 years old and she will eventually go to Chaparral High.”  Afterward I wondered why I had led with the term “special needs” instead of just saying I have an 11 year old daughter.  Yes she has some physical and developmental disabilities that affect her daily living but do those limitations truly define her as my daughter?  I don’t think so at all and I’m perplexed as to why I felt the need to share the extra information with a total stranger.  Without getting too deep into some psychological mumbo jumbo I’m sure it has something to do with me developing a type of defense mechanism over the years.  Maybe if I describe her up front as my special needs daughter it will help to guide the conversation so they don’t accidentally say or ask something that makes me uncomfortable.  Recent examples would be “is your middle school going to be close enough for your daughter to walk there?” or “is your daughter involved in any extracurricular activities?”  Those are perfectly appropriate questions for people to ask if they don’t know our situation and I’ve had to answer or deflect (depending on my mood that day) those kinds of questions many times in the last few years.  I’m sure if I asked Kinley about this she would just want me to tell people that I have a beautiful 11 year old daughter.  Good advice indeed.

Kinley rides a Harley

As a native of Kansas I have always been drawn to all things cowboy including horses.  However I'm a little ashamed to admit that I have never actually thrown my leg over a saddle unless you count the ponies at Watson Park in south Wichita when I was kid.  So I was a little nervous when one of Kinley’s doctors suggested something called hippotherapy which is physical and occupational therapy done while on horseback.  At age 3 Kinley gave it a try while we were living in Kansas City and absolutely loved it.  She continued after we moved to Wichita and then took a break for several years while doing more traditional physical therapy.  She started again a few months ago here in Colorado and we think it has been great for her both physically and emotionally.  Why a horse?  Well according to the American Hippotherapy Association the “natural movements of the horse helps individuals with disabilities increase their functional abilities and achieve greater independence. The horse's movement translates through the body, strengthening various muscles. Horses are used because the pelvis of a horse moves in the same way as a human pelvis. This creates a movement pattern similar to human walking. The horse also provides sensory input that promotes increased motor function.”    

American Hippotherapy Association

This is Kinley riding in the outdoor arena at Saddle-Up Foundation in Parker, Colorado.  There is also a wonderful indoor arena for the colder days but I would have to say she likes the outdoor sessions the best.  Her horse is named Harley and they are pretty tight!  A physical therapist is on one side and a volunteer on the other side with another volunteer helping to lead the horse.  Just riding the horse is great therapy however there are all kinds of different exercises that can be done while the horse is moving or standing still.  One of Kinley’s favorites is to play catch with Suzie or me using a large beach ball while she is riding.  At the end of the session they even allow her to brush the horses coat and those movements are great therapy as well.  Kudos to all the facilities like Saddle-Up that offer hippotherapy as a way to improve the lives of kids with physical disabilities. Cheers!