The bunny cake tradition….
I’m not really sure why I started this tradition. At first I thought it was a fun way to show Stalen’s physical growth year over year.
But, now I know that it was so much more than that.
The bunny cake has become a concrete example of hope and effort.
Each Easter I buy a bunny cake for a little boy who doesn’t eat cake. He has a very limited diet which only includes eggs, a baby purée and g-tube feeds.
It’s not a symbol of what he can’t do but it’s a symbol of hope for what he may do one day.
Some day I know he’s gonna want to taste the cake but each year we will try again until HE decides that he’s ready.
Each year I will provide the cake and he will make that choice. I will follow his lead.
When and if he decides he wants some bunny cake, I will be ready. I’m always preparing for those “you never know” and “just in case” moments.
As a parent to an autistic child, I have learned that this journey is one of lots of hope and effort.
It is these two ingredients that have watered the seeds for the greatest growth.
I will always continue to hope and put forth the effort because progress never comes from just standing still and great things take time.
While the photos may show a physically growing boy, they don’t show all the other areas of him that are experiencing growth too.
There’s also a Mama behind the camera that’s growing every day as she learns more and more about her boy and how he sees the world.
Each year with renewed hope we look forward to the bunny cake tradition! 🐰
Stalen's Way 