Ammon and Nursery...

Several months ago, one of Ammon’s occupational therapists (Mike) recommended that Ammon start attending nursery at church, and he didn’t want us in there with him the whole time. He recommended that an individual be called to work directly with Ammon during nursery time. Apparently the church handbook has a section in it that suggests callings or other accommodations be made for the inclusion of individuals with various disabilities (makes sense, I can only imagine that the handbook would suggest the same things that the Savior would do if He were performing the act). Summer and I have definitely prayed and worked for the acceptance and inclusion of individuals with Down syndrome and other disabilities and have usually been met with success and greater understanding. However, we don’t consider ourselves to be the “in your face” type of people that insist upon every accommodation for Ammon or complete acceptance. Instead, we have experienced almost without exception that even without any input from our side, people are eager to serve, to learn, and to love our little boy, and we have been so grateful for these blessings.

So we took Mike’s recommendation (after several weeks of deliberation between ourselves) and finally approached one of our bishopric counselors. He was ecstatic and said he would talk to Bishop Everett as soon as possible. About two weeks later a new nursery leader was called (Robin). When we heard that Robin had been called we couldn’t think of a more perfect choice. Robin called us at home and said that she had been specifically called to work with Ammon during nursery. So our little boy became a nursery attender and we were the happy pleased parents. The first week we left him with Robin we showed her a few things on how to help him hold his own head up or sit in a chair with assistance. We initially figured, these people don’t know much about all the stuff Ammon can do and we just didn’t want them to hold him the whole time like a little baby. Though I’m sure our initial suggestions were helpful, we were completely wrong yet again in the power of good people and the sweet whisperings of the Spirit in helping people to fulfill their callings. We were surprised and almost brought to tears when we picked Ammon up that first Sunday from Robin. He was so happy, full of smiles, and was wearing a wonderful yellow crown on his head. Written around the base of crown was the phrase, “I can be a good (example).” You couldn’t see the word example because his head was so small that the crown overlapped the word so it would fit on his head. We had never thought of making a crown or doing other crafts of this type with Ammon. Though Ammon couldn’t walk or even crawl out of nursery like all of the other children, his crown was just like all of the others and he had been able to participate with all of the others. (Debbie, Ammon’s grandmother, almost cries every time she tells someone that her little grandson went to nursery today).

On the second week we picked Ammon up and the response was the same, just pure joy all over his face. Robin handed us a picture that he had colored with a crayon, and again we were amazed. We didn’t even think to let him color, to let him be another little boy in that regard. At home we focus so much on doing Ammon’s playtime exercises, feeding times, and other activities that we had kind of lost sight of some of the other fun things that we can help Ammon do. And here are all of these good people at nursery, and particularly Robin, that help Ammon to color, to enjoy snack time, and to listen during lesson time. Again, we are learning from others that we initially thought we would be teaching, and we are all learning from Ammon’s amazing abilities. Mike was right.

Ammon’s been in nursery for a couple months now, and I can’t get over thanking Robin enough for accepting such an important calling to our family. I am humbled to think that on a regular basis as she prays on ways that she can fulfill her calling, in many regards she is praying for Ammon and receiving little inspirations on ways she is meant to help him succeed in nursery, in ways that in some instances are even beyond our abilities as parents. The direct impact of her fulfilling her calling will in many regards reap eternal blessings for Ammon and our family. I can’t help but want to do better and serve more diligently in my own callings; and similar to Robin, simply try to do the things that the Savior would do if he were here performing the same act.