Thumbs Only Get in the Way

Catch a ball.  Tie shoes.  Monkey bars.  Write.  Open a lid from a jar.  Button a shirt.  When Zander was born, these were all the things that flashed in my head that he would not be able to do.  Being born with only 4 fingers on each hand and no opposable thumbs, I was certain that Zander would lead a very limited life.  I knew there would be a life full of accommodations in his future.  In our house, we gave out high fours instead of high fives.  Zander was never a thumb sucker.  He would never be able to hitch hike (this is certainly a positive thing).  I have a tendency to be pretty pessimistic rather than seeing the glass half full kind of a girl.  Thankfully, Beau is the exact opposite.  My all time favorite story about Beau's sense of humor regarding his son's missing thumbs was when Zander was about 6 months old.  We were at the mall and Zander was in the stroller.  I was a few feet away shopping, but I was close enough and could hear and see the whole interaction.  This sweet little old lady came over and began to sing the "This little piggy went to market" song using Zander's fingers.  Halfway through the song, she realized she was going to run out of piggies before the song was over, and she just sang "Hmmmm" in an uncomfortable humming sound.  I wanted to save her and have a conversation, but Beau wanted to see her reaction so he left her hanging.  She quickly grabbed her shopping bags and almost ran away.  To this day, Beau and I laugh about that.

One thing that I did not count on was Zander's stubbornness, determination, and deep competitive streak.  These have all worked in his favor, even the stubbornness (sometimes).  Zander has always had a great sense of humor about his hands, even as a small child.  He got that from Beau.  I was very sensitive about the situation, but Beau taught Zander from an early age to not only accept his beautiful hands, but to embrace them.  To this day, Zander would tell you that the missing thumbs is a great conversation starter.  He has never shied away from this topic.....ever.  He will be the first to make a joke, thereby, putting others at ease.  One summer during scout camp, he went to the nurse's station and had covered his hands in cloths and filled them with ketchup to look like blood.  He then proceeded to explain to the nurse that he had lost his thumbs.  She was horrified, but he was quite satisfied with his humor.

When he was learning to write as a little guy, his teacher wanted him to use a special pencil gripper.  Zander graciously tried, but it didn't take him long to decide that he didn't want anything that would differentiate him from his fellow classmates.  He worked harder, but he taught himself to write using a normal pencil like everyone else.  His hand gets tired very quickly because of the grip he has to use when writing, but he was never deterred.  When playing on the playground, Zander quickly became the fastest monkey bar user.  He could beat all his classmates.  He would joke saying that he didn't have thumbs to get in his way.  He did this all because someone told him that he shouldn't use the monkey bars because he may fall.

In kindergarten, his teacher challenged each of the students to tie their shoes.  There was some kind of treat for the students that could accomplish this challenge (although I can't remember now what that was).  Up until this time, Zander had not been able to tie his shoes.  But this competition was all he needed to spur him on.  Later on, in about 3rd or 4th grade, Zander was involved in an OT program at his elementary school.  Zander always struggled to use scissors.  Cutting on the line proved to be a very difficult task.  His OT purchased him some special spring loaded scissors to assist him with his cutting skills.  Zander tried using them, but again, he was being singled out and therefore would not use them.  He did go on to learn to cut with more precision.  He worked hard on that skill.  However, his determination was not so much for his own gain, but more to prove others wrong.

Zander was very active with gymnastics and was quite good.  Once he got a little older, he joined an all boys gymnastics class where he would be using the uneven bars and rings.  The Russian teacher was just sure that Zander shouldn't be in this class and could get hurt.  I assured him that he would be fine, and sure enough, Zander excelled.  In fact, I think he was a little faster due to not having to manipulate his thumbs for the turning.

When he was in middle school, the school counselor thought it would be a good idea for Zander to learn to use the Dragon Speech computer program that would translate his spoken words into typed format. Being respectful, Zander obliged.  However, to this day, he still has never used this program.   Remember the not being singled out thing?

I am proud of Zander's determination.  I have always told him that his only handicap in life would be his own attitude.  I know that God has gifted Zander with many things that help him overcome his hands.  He is quite intelligent.  He has long fingers and a strong grip.  Zander may have to sometimes try a little harder or work a little smarter, but he always manages to figure things out.  When I can't open a jar of pickles or pry open the lid to the juice container, he is my go to guy.

Now, he has a job at a local grocery store chain where he is a bagger and a cashier. Customers are always commenting about how quick and efficient he is whether he is bagging or ringing up groceries.  This past week, the grocery store held a bagging contest.  In this contest, the baggers had to bag groceries the fastest, according to the store's rules, and distribute the weight as evenly as possible.  Zander won this contest.  Apparently, whoever wins this local contest will go on to a district level contest, and then to national.  Yes, folks.  There will be a national champion bagger sometime this year.  Who knew?  Regardless of how far Zander makes it in this contest, I am proud. Proud that the fastest bagger of the Nashua Hannaford grocery store is none other than my son with no thumbs.  How ironic is that?

For his senior year in high school, he has to take some kind of art/music credit.  He chose guitar.  I am not sure what his instructor is going to think when Zander shows up the first day of class for learn guitar.  I am actually kind of anxious to hear about the reaction.  Boy, would I love to be a fly on that wall.  Zander's sense of humor is endearing.

He recently learned about the "No Hitchhiking" sign in driver's ed.  And of course, he couldn't wait to purchase one of his own to hang in his room.  Ha.  Ha.  This kid cracks me up.

That Boy Can Move

Our family took our annual trip to Canobie Lake Park last week.  We go every summer and the boys look forward to it each time.  It's no Disney, but it is the perfect pace and size for our family.  This year, we were able to bring one of Zander's childhood friends with us as he was here for a short visit. The lines are never long, the weather is never too hot, and there is enough of a variety to appeal to each of my children.  Carter loves the water park and the water rides while my other three love the rides.  Now that Will and Ollie have joined the over 48" club, they qualify for many more rides now.  Carter is taller than his 2 older brothers, but he refuses to ride anything besides the kiddie rides.

So, as normal, we entered the park with our buddy.  This year, our buddy system was interrupted a little in the beginning because we had a guest.  Zander and Jarod went off for a few hours together to ride the big stuff.  Beau was in charge of Carter and William.  I had Ollie.  Ollie is always my partner whether it be at restaurants, sitting on the couch, going to parks, riding on the airplane, etc.  Although we have been to Canobie several times, due to his sensory issues, going to places like Canobie can be extremely overwhelming.  So for almost an entire hour, Ollie and I simply walked around the park and he took in all the scenery.  He glanced at the various rides and we talked about each one.  We even stood in a few lines, until he changed his mind and wanted to keep searching.  It was exhausting.  I am usually like a big kid in that I love to ride the coasters and I was beginning to lose my patience.  But Oliver finally got on a ride and after it was over, he was fine the rest of the day.  In fact he got on a "big boy" ride even though he was a little afraid. He saw that it spun in a crazy fast circle and asked me if he would throw up from the ride.  I told him I didn't think so, but he had never ridden it before so I wasn't positive.  That answer didn't stop him.  He got on the ride and assured me that if he felt nausous, he would simply cover his mouth so he wouldn't throw up on anyone.  I am glad to report that he did not vomit.

In the middle of the day, we all met up and traded around partners.  Zander, Jarod, and William spent some time together.  The teenagers introduced William to the big coasters and from I heard, William was a pro.  The last part of the day, all 5 boys rode the water rides over and over again.  The three littles, of course, wanted to sit next to Jarod.  Jarod was generous enough to ride with each of them, even though I think he was getting tired of the same rides.  It was a fun day.  However, my fondest memory of the day was a fun interruption in the late afternoon.  The park always plays loud music over their pa system and mostly it is just background music.  However, as we were walking on the sidewalk going from one ride to another, a certain song came on and it seemed to speak to Carter.  He literally stopped in the middle of the sidewalk to begin dancing and beat boxing.  He was such a fun sight that passersby stopped to watch.  Before we knew it, Carter had a crowd of people standing around him to watch his performance.  The best part was that Carter was completely oblivious to his fans as he was so "into" his dancing and beat boxing.  If I had been quick, I would have put my hat upside down on the sidewalk for people to toss in their spare change.  We probably would have had enough to buy ice creams for everyone.  I also wished I had thought to snap a picture.  I was too busy watching his performance.