Mothers of Handicapped Children

by Erma Bombeck

A mother; This parent heaven sent by choice; a few by social pressures and a couple by habit.

This year nearly 100,000 women will become mothers of handicapped children. Did you ever wonder how mothers of handicapped children are chosen? Some how I visualize God hovering over earth selecting his instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation. As He observes, He instructs His angels to make notes in a giant ledger.

"Armstrong, Beth, son. Patron saint Matthew.

Forest,Marjorie, daughter, Patron saint Cecilia.

Ruttledge, Carrie, twins, Patron saint... give her Gerard- he's used to profanity."

Finally, He passes a name to an angel and smiles. Give her a handicapped child." The angel is curious. "Why this one God? She's so happy." "Exactly" smiles God. "Could I give a handicapped child to a mother who does not know laughter? That would be cruel." "But has she patience?" Asked the angel. "I don't want her to have too much patience or she will drown in a sea of self-pity, and despair. Once the anger and resentment wear off, she'll handle it."

"I watched her today. She has that feeling of self and independence that is so rare and so necessary in a mother. You see, the child I'm going to give her has his own world, and that's not going to be easy.: "But Lord, I don't think she believes in you" God smils, "No matter. I can fix that. This one is perfect. She has just enough selfishness." The angel gasps."selfishness? Is that a virtue? God nods. "If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally she'll never survive. Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with a child less than perfect. She doesn't reallize it yet, but she will be envied. She will never consider a step ordinary, when her child says "mommy" for the first time she will be present at a miracle and know it; when she describes a tree or a sunset to her blind child, she will see it as few people ever see my creations."

"I will permit her to see clearly what I see..... ignorance, cruelty, prejudice - and allow her to rise above them. She will never be alone, I will be at her side every minute of everyday of her life because she is doing my work as surely as she is here by my side."

"And what about her patron saint?" asks the angel, his pen poised in mid-air God smiles, " a mirror will suffice."