Precerpt from Raising God's Rainbow Makers: Shane's Presence of Mind

When Shane was eight, we transferred him to a private school in Falls Church. It was a good fit academically, but it required something new: taking a city bus. In Falls Church, that was generally considered safe, and for months everything went smoothly. Shane got on the bus in the morning, went to school, and showed up at home in the late afternoon with the same steady reliability he’d always had.

Then one day, I got a call from Red Lobster.

Red Lobster. In Falls Church. Asking me to come pick up Shane.

I remember staring at the phone, thinking, What? Red Lobster sat across a parking lot behind the bus stop bench where Shane always waited. I drove over immediately, heart pounding in that way only a parent’s heart can pound.

When I arrived, the manager met me and said, “Your son is very astute.”

Apparently school had let out a bit late, and Shane missed his usual bus. He sat on the bench to wait for the next one. While he was waiting, a car pulled up and someone inside called out, inviting him to hop in. Shane waved them off. Then a young man got out of the car and approached him directly.

“Come with us,” he said. “We’re going to go get some ice cream.”

Shane didn’t panic. He didn’t freeze. He didn’t get swept up in the lure of ice cream. Instead, he answered with simple clarity:

“Mommy and Daddy won’t like that. They told me to wait for them here.”

The young man came closer.

Shane stood up.

Across the parking lot, an elderly couple—easily in their eighties or nineties—were coming out of Red Lobster. Shane called out to them, loudly and confidently:

“Mom! Dad! I’m over here, waiting like you said!”

Of course they weren’t his parents. But they didn’t need to be. The car sped off. That was all that mattered.

Shane then walked into Red Lobster and asked for the manager. He explained what had happened and gave him my phone number. When I arrived, several young waitresses were fussing over him, plying this cute little blue-eyed blond with a moppet haircut with pieces of lobster. Shane was eating happily, completely composed.

I was amazed—and deeply grateful—that he had been able to keep his presence of mind and problem-solve so quickly in a dangerous situation. No surprise that he grew up to be a 911 supervisor.

Nonetheless, for the rest of the school year, we sent Shane to school and back in a taxi. Always the same driver. A little expensive, yes—but sometimes he’d take a few extra minutes and swing by Dairy Queen to buy Shane an ice cream.

Shane was safe. And that was worth everything.

Raising God’s Rainbow Makers means raising children who can think clearly under pressure, who trust their instincts, who understand that they are allowed to say no and walk away. Shane did all of that at eight.

And I’ve never stopped thanking God for the wisdom He plants in our children long before we realize how much they already carry.

Book Description:

Raising God's Rainbow Makers

A Family Memoir of Grace, Grit, and Growing Up Different

What happens when a military family welcomes four children—each with wildly different needs—into a world not always built to support them?

In Raising God’s Rainbow Makers, one mother shares the remarkable journey of raising two children with complex disabilities—one with spina bifida, one with CHARGE Syndrome—and two intellectually gifted children, all born in different states during years of military life. Through medical crises, educational challenges, and societal roadblocks (both intentional and unintentional), this honest and inspiring memoir tells the story of how one family built a life of strength, compassion, and resilience.

With warmth and unflinching honesty, the author reflects on emergency surgeries, IEP battles, unexpected victories, and the fierce sibling bonds that formed in the face of it all. The children—now grown—bear witness to the power of support, faith, and never giving up.

This is not just a story of survival. It is a celebration of difference, a chronicle of hope, and a powerful testament to what love and determination can build when the world says "impossible." 

Keywords:

Parenting memoir; Special needs parenting; Raising children with disabilities; Military family life; Family resilience; Inspirational family story; Faith-based memoir; Coping with medical challenges; Sibling support stories; Gifted children; Spina bifida; CHARGE Syndrome; Hydrocephalus; Congenital disabilities; Complex medical needs; Pediatric neurosurgery; IEP and special education; Gifted education; Educational advocacy; Inclusive education; Hope and healing; Courage and strength; Love and perseverance; Raising different children; Disability acceptance; Parenting through adversity; Overcoming barriers; Finding joy in hardship; Special needs journey; Family unity and support; For parents of disabled children; For parents of gifted children; For educators and therapists; Christian parenting memoir; For families facing rare diagnoses; Real-life parenting stories; Memoirs about raising children; Stories of medical miracles

 

For more posts about Elizabeth and her books, click HERE. 

Read more stories -- and photos -- about the Mahlou family in the blog (no longer maintained), Clan of Mahlou.

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