Super Sense

Daily prompt: If you were forced to give up one sense, but gain super-sensitivity in another, which senses would you choose?

How ironic is this daily prompt? Since we discovered the possibility of Jacob being essentially blind in one eye, I am finding myself walking around with one eye closed to feel what it must be like.

There are a couple of things I’ve gained from doing this, apart from looking silly. One is that my depth perception is completely out of whack, as in I have none with only one eye open. This now makes complete sense why Jacob really doesn’t like to play catch for very long, and its amazing that he can catch at all. The realization of this hit us this weekend as we were on our way to church, and it was a hard one. It’s amazing how you don’t even know you have visions and dreams for your children, until the possibility of them becoming reality dims.

The second realization I’ve come to is that generally, I assume that others see the world in a similar way I do. I’m not really sure why I do this, or if everyone does this, but only when confronted with an opposing viewpoint do I realize just how much I assume. And of course, with Jacob’s tentative diagnosis, it brought this home in a new, and very concrete way. It would have never occurred to me that Jacob couldn’t see the way I do. It just seemed so outside the realm of possibility. But now that we know, so many things are making more sense. Little things, like the way he completely turns his head to see out the car window, or when he’s lying on his back at the dentist’s office and gets so scared because he can’t see what’s coming. He doesn’t have peripheral vision. These sorts of realizations are coming fast and furious.

And then the heightened sense of smell and super taste sensitivity. He cannot sit at the table without gagging if there is a yogurt within his proximity. I assumed he was just being silly when he would make a big stink about not wanting to sit by his sister while she ate a greek yogurt. Mom fail. I had no idea.

So, if I were to give up one sense, but gain super-sensitivity in another, I’m not sure what I would choose. I think an exaggerated sense of smell would be last on my list. (After being pregnant and being assaulted by odors I couldn’t escape, I wouldn’t wish that on anyone!) After what we have been going through with our son, I can’t imagine being without sight. Honestly, as I sit here, I’m trying to think of one sense I could live without, and I find I don’t like this question because I wouldn’t want to be without any of them.

I wouldn’t want to give up taste and smell, how then would I enjoy delicious meals? The aroma of hot coffee in the morning? Bacon? The scent of my freshly bathed minions?

I wouldn’t want to give up sight, how could I not see the faces of my family, friends, or the beauty around us? Breathtaking sunsets, stunning mountains, the beach? Um, no thanks.

I wouldn’t want to give up touch. I am a touchy-feeler. I thoroughly enjoy hugs and massages and know there is value in human contact – more than I can articulate.

I don’t want to give up any senses. And after experiencing exaggerated or heightened senses while pregnant, and with my son, I’m good with mine just the way they are thankyouverymuch!