Holiday Reflections

This guest blog post was written by long-time NAPVI Regional Coordinator Jeannette Christie, who works with families in the greater New York City region.


Aww, the holidays. They can be joyful and stressful all at the same time. I think back to the time when my son was little and playing with toys. I remember how, of course, at the beginning of my journey in having a visually impaired child I bought no specialized toys—just toys off the shelf of Toys r Us or any toy store we went to. I am glad I didn’t know any better, because now I realize that when he went to school or played at someone’s house there wouldn’t be specialized toys available for him.

I guess what I am saying is everyone’s family is different and there is no right or wrong way to celebrate the holidays. The right way is what works for your child, and no one knows that better than you.

In the end, we all share the same concerns. We worry, stress, and anticipate what the future holds for them. My advice for you is, as much as possible, to let them play the same way their siblings, cousins, and classmates play. Our kids are strong, they figure it out.

Happy Holidays!