Welcome to Holland!

Written by Yasiph
Thursday, 07 December 2006
The Cerebral Palsy Association of Western Australia Ltd published an excellent description of what it is like to be a parent of a child with a disability in the November 1994 issue of the newsletter "Brand News". It is highly recommended that all relatives and friends read the "Welcome to Holland" article by Emily Perl Kingsley. A copy of "Welcome to Holland" is included here for your interest. WELCOME TO HOLLAND by Emily Perl Kingsley. ©1987 by Emily Perl Kingsley. All rights reserved. I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this...... When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting. After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland." "Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy." But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay. The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place. So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met. It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around.... and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills....and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts. But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy... and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned." And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away... because the loss of that dream is a very very significant loss. But... if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things ... about Holland. FURTHER INFORMATION: If you would like any further information or if you would like to talk about the contents of this brochure, then please contact one of the Social Workers at the Cerebral Palsy Association of WA on (08) 9443 0211. COPYRIGHT NOTICE Not-for-profit organizations can reproduce this booklet on the condition that they acknowledge the Cerebral Palsy Association of Western Australia Ltd (the "Association") in so doing; and that it is not used to generate funds in any way; Anyone seeking to reproduce this booklet in whole or in part for the purpose of sale, hiring or other commercial venture must seek written permission from the Association; The Association will bear no responsibility for any costs associated with the electronic postage or processing of this booklet. The Cerebral Palsy Association of Western Australia Ltd 106 Bradford Street Coolbinia Western Australia 6050 Australia Telephone: 61 9 443 0211 Facsimile: 61 9 4447299
Last Updated ( Monday, 28 July 2008 )

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Newsflash

How is Yafaau?

Yafaau is generally ok but we are concerned about his low weight. He's getting thinner day by day, although we try every effort not to let that happen. With feeding difficulty, we are also limited to different textures of food because he is on semi-solid food diet. We also could not give just any food as he is prone to constipation and that has been a concern since his early years.

But he is Fun to be with, smiles and even laughs on when we play with him. Samiya, my wonderful wife makes my life easier takes great care of him and am sort a happy with how he's improving. Slowly but surely :)

Thank you for being with us at Yafaau's FanClub

Thank you all very much for your blessings and concern, and thank you for being with us.

I'd like to remind all of you on Yafaau's FanClub again about telling young minds about children like Yafaau. Talking to young children about children with disAbilities do help them understand more about these "unusual" kids or maybe adults. Many "special" parents still feel difficult to be in public places due to community's response on their child. I however feel if children in our community is openly explained and their parents are made aware of the fact that it is okay to approach and ask "special" parents questions they do not happen to know. Because most of them don't know of any child or a person with a disAbility. Anyway, We can and we will, insha Allah see that day.