Some days begin with a clear head
These are the days no sad words are said
My body feels right
My head clear and bright
I can ace my test
I can do my best

Other mornings my head’s unclear
My thoughts are twisted
And tangled ear to ear
I forget my homework and the test in math
I can’t remember if I have gym or art class

On these days I feel like I am somebody else
Like someone took the best parts of myself.

Why do my days change like the seasons?
Affecting my mind with little rhyme and no reason?
One day I am a rainbow full of power and might
The next I am a storm waiting it out until night

 What can you do when nothing makes sense?
When your body betrays you and makes you feel dense

This is my story, my life if you wish
Of finding the answer to the question I missed
How do you make sense of the days that go wrong?
When there are so many days that make me feel powerful and strong?

To the doctor went my Mom and me
There’s an answer out there, we will find it, you’ll see

In one room and right out the next
One test, now two and three, take a rest
Can he sit still through a story without raising his hand?
Can he balance on one foot and then quickly stand?
Do noises distract him when he’s taking a test?
Does he often speak out of turn or before all the rest?

 Questions upon questions are asked of his mother
How is his Dad, his sister, his brother?
As my mother shook her head to each question they asked
They nodded to one another, muttered quick and fast

My Mother explained when noises ring loud
I try not to cry from the sharp sudden sound
She described how I need to bump this way and that
And how I wiggle while I sit on my mat

The questions kept coming
Can he focus on task?
Can he read all the letters?
On his paper when asked?

Yes, said his mother, on most days he can
It’s the other days where he can’t seem to plan
His body feels funny like he needs something more
His good listening ears dance right out the door.

Why all the questions of this person and that
And then comes my answer as simply as that.

“Nonsense!”, they said and as the words echoed out
My head felt heavy and I wanted to shout
It’s all in his head, they made that quite clear
Come on, said my Mom, let’s get out of here

Back in the car a tear quickly escaped
I tried closing my eyes shut even though I’m awake.
Mom leaned way over and said, “Please don’t be sad”
I still couldn’t help it, for I felt very mad.

As her heart grew weary she gave me a quick little hug
With a quizzical look, she gave me a tug
She pulled on my arms, then my legs as hard as she could
She asked me if that felt any good

The world was less crazy, the cobwebs had cleared
Gone was the gauzy fog that I feared
The hugs were the answer to my body gone wrong
So I hummed in my head a sweet little song

With a smile tossed my way, and a squeeze of my head
My Mom told me something weird that was said
While one doctor had said something about senses
another tossed the idea as soon as it was mentioned.

My Mom’s the crusader, the mighty knights missed
When she started a mission she worked until it got fixed
Through the late hours, she read on and on
Through pages of text with coffee made strong

When the sun rose again and the alarm sounded at eight
My Mom gave me a long hug and said don’t be late
Oh, how that felt good, having my bones pressed together
And I knew for sure this day would only get better

That night when dinner was served promptly at six
My Dad and my Mom said they had answered my wish
We went to a doctor and explained how you feel
And to our amazement the doctor said all those symptoms are real

They call it Sensory Integration Disorder
Makes your senses slightly distorted
They will create a sensory diet they say
Will make your body work in a much better way

You will swing on your swing, and do push ups and hang
You will squeeze a soft ball in the palm of your hand
You will sit on a cushion in class while you write
And after a while you will feel good and alright

That night as I closed my eyes to sleep
I knew that my dreams were now mine to keep
As soon as I learned to work my senses together
I knew I could be happy now and forever

Copyright 2005 All Rights Reserved