Day 92

For Constance to be in a recreational program, several things had to line up perfectly. The time had to be when she wasn’t already booked but when someone could take her. It had to be an activity she would be willing to do. The program had to have space but not so low registration that it would be canceled. An aide had to be available from the North Shore Special Recreation District. To maximize the odds that all these things would happen, I registered Constance for five different programs every season. This made it possible for her to have swim lessons once a week each weekend. The other weekdays, I would take her and we would do swim laps.

I wanted to add another recreational activity to her schedule that helped her work on her gross motor coordination. I also liked the idea of her learning a social sport. After a few seasons of her golf classes being canceled or held when she couldn’t attend, I somehow convinced a kindhearted golf pro, Rob, to give her weekly one-on-one lessons. Rob was incredibly generous with his time. When Constance’s grandparents asked how long I would keep her in golf lessons, I answered candidly, “Until he gets sick of doing them.”

Constance and I required an incredible amount of patience. After each successful swing of the club, I would clap, cheer, and jump up and down while Constance did a victory lap wildly swinging the club over her head and yelling, “I did it!” Over time, Rob convinced her to just do a little dance and for me to remain seated while I clapped and cheered for her. He pointed out that she would get more practice swings that way.

Once, the golf pro tried to explain that he wanted her arm to make the shape of an “L” during a particular part of the swing. Constance laid down her club and made the American Sign Language sign for “L” while dancing around saying, “L, L, L, L, L!”

Golf was never going to take the place of swimming in Constance’s heart. However, she made great progress and I fantasized about the day I would get to be her caddie. Rob didn’t get anything out of teaching Constance to swing other than our gratitude. He didn’t do it because his kid had special needs because he didn’t. He didn’t do it because I paid him; he refused my money. He was just a good person who did a kind thing over and over again. I am thankful to Rob for all of the cherished memories that Constance and I made at those practices.