My husband bought me a dream mixer. And let me be the first to tell you that disabilities can be frustratingly limiting.

It was a professional mixer with a ginormous mixing bowl. I struggle with my shoulder and back using the classic stand mixer. Somedays, I don’t have the ability to scoot it or remove the bowl from the base. So it sits there, silently judging me. I thought this mixer would solve my issues. It’s a lift away bowl. It looked so easy online. Everyone says “it’s your dream mixer!” You push down a little lever, place on the bowl and lift up a lever.

Unfortunately, the bowl is secured in place with pins and is virtually impossible for someone with mobility issues to budge. I actually tried, hurt myself pretty severely. Then I cried, realizing my dreams of being a professional baker are squashed. This wasn’t my dream mixer. It was a nightmare. It was indeed a rough day to see yet another idea be tampered by my limitations.

Feeling a bit down, I tried to share my sadness with friends and family. This is when people without disabilities can’t understand the reality of what having limitations really means. They will give you well meaning, but impractical advice like “hold onto it until you get better” or “move it to a better location.”

They can’t fathom that your body or mind just doesn’t function like it should. I used to be that way myself. The old “until you walk a mile in his shoes” comes to mind. Try not to be sad and feel love instead. They are trying to encourage you the best they know how.

Also, speak up. Tell them you know they care for you and are just trying to encourage you. And tell them sometimes it would be much easier if they would say “That’s not fair. Let’s think of another way to work with your disability so your dreams don’t have to be over.”

Don’t despair if this happens to you during baking. There are lots of ways to work around your disability. I looked online and found a mini stand mixer. This one went back to the store and we ordered the smaller size. It won’t hold as much, but if it will allow me to continue baking, perhaps this will be a blessing in disguise? I’ll keep you updated when it comes in the mail. In the meantime, keep trying. There are things we as disabled people still can do in the kitchen!

Disabilities can be frustratingly limiting in the kitchen, for sure. But when we focus on what we can do, it really motivates us! Check out the update to this post here and see what happened!