I’ve discovered that it’s only a matter of time until your child puts you in an awkward situation.
When you have more than one child, it increases the odds of said situation. With four kids, I understand I’m at a high propensity to encounter these situations. When you have a child of mine, it dramatically increases the likelihood of such a situation occurring. In this instance, the apple didn’t fall far from the tree.
This day was like any other, I chose to keep a tight routine to minimize my own anxieties. The gym has been a mental and physical outlet for said anxiety for many years. A good sweat at the beginning of my day is my key to a balanced disposition. I had just finished a workout and retrieved my son from the facility-operated childcare. We were at the front reception area changing into our snow boots to undertake the tundra-like parking lot. I felt trapped in slow motion the second he noticed Teme.
I saw my son’s mind spark with curiosity, and it scared the hell out of me.
Temesgen Larson was walking right toward us and his prosthetic leg ignited an instant curiosity in my son. It happened instantaneously and gave me no time for preparation, and very little room for retreat. If you are fortunate enough to come from a large family, you understand that with the birth of every child, the household volume is increased significantly. Noah is our third child, and when he’s comfortable in a situation his voice level is just short of screaming. In his comfort zone, and broadcasting across the gym, Noah asked, “What happened to that guy’s leg, Dad?” Shook with nerves, and with a bit of a stutter, I asked Teme if he minded sharing what had happened. I could end the story right there and you’d have an idea of how it turned out.
The situation was positive, and it fostered growth between us that matured into a friendship. But, in that exact moment, Teme leaned in and explained how his accident happened in a context my son could grasp. He lowered himself to my son’s level, and he answered every question my inquisitive four-year-old could summon. Teme gave Noah a safe place to ask and understand things in life that he had never previously experienced. In turn, Teme taught my son a lot of things in that initial interaction. I knew we could all benefit from hearing Teme’s remarkable story, so an invitation to appear as a guest on The World With Nate soon followed.
That’s not how it could have gone down, had I allowed the nerves I was experiencing to take control that day. If I had found myself in a similar situation, say at Wal-Mart, I may have thrown Noah in the cart and jetted! It wasn’t perfect and I felt stupid, but I’m thankful for that moment. I’d seen Teme in the gym for years, and I have had the same curiosities. As an adult, I just wasn’t brave enough to blatantly ask innocent, childlike questions, as Noah does so naturally. That situation has helped me to extinguish some of my unnecessary fears toward being inquisitive and curious. Those newly acquired tools allow me to ask genuine questions—which, in turn, fuel the podcast. Thank you, Teme Larson, for your maturity and wisdom.
I will always be in absolute awe of the things you have already accomplished in your life, and I’m thankful for the growth you have afforded my family and me.
I can’t wait to watch your life story on the big screen someday! Temesgen Larson’s newest aspiration is to raise funds to create a biopic, produced by the Ethiopian Broadcasting Service (EBS), which will depict his phenomenal true-life story.
The forthcoming film will utilize an episode of an EBS produced Saturday-afternoon television series as its springboard. To directly fund Teme’s film, visit the official GoFundMe page.
