Five Things Every Parent of Kids with Special Needs Should Hear
Are you walking into a new world of special needs parenting for the first time? Are you a few years in and finding things hard to manage right now? Or are you the parent who has walked this path and is now looking ahead at what services are there for your child’s future?
Here are some gems of advice that I have received from others who have walked this path alongside me, before me, and some of my own.
Advocacy Can Come in Many Forms
If you are the loud and proud mama or papa bear walking into an IEP meeting or evaluation asking all the questions and expecting answers that is the perfect way to do it. If you are the parent who is research-heavy searching the internet looking for all the studies and best practices to be prepared to walk into each meeting with statistics and sites behind you that is wonderful. If you are a quiet parent finding their voice behind the forms, appointments, and recommendations who reach out to others for the support it is just right to bring those voices with you.
What I have learned along the way from others is you can have a combination of these advocacy approaches at different times when different emotions are flowing. No matter how you lift yourself up and fight the good fight, that is what is right for today.
Talking About Feelings is OK
As parents, we often feel that speaking about the dark and hard is shameful. Others aren’t feeling the way you are because you haven’t had someone open up to you about it yet. We sit in feelings of guilt, sorrow, sadness, feelings of failure, and overwhelming tasks. These feelings do not overshadow the joy, love, happiness, and bliss that comes with parenting so it is ok to talk about them.
Not only is parenting a challenge on some days but special needs parenting comes with so many additional challenges. I never wanted to feel lost in the what-ifs, hows, or whys but it is natural to feel that way at certain points. The commercial idea of parenting found in parenting magazines can feel defeating and unrealistic.
Please share your story with others because there for sure is a parent sitting behind a closed door waiting to hear that they are not alone.
Take in the Wins, Celebrate Each Accomplishment, and Honor the Hard Work
As special needs parents, we sit with therapists, teachers, and even family members as they highlight the perceived deficiencies in our children. We watch each minute of practice and hard work to hold a fork, brush teeth, recognize words, speak a sentence, communicate needs, and so much more.
Our family circles in the celebration with each accomplishment to fight off the mountain of forms, saying that our children might be able to accomplish these things. We shout with joy because these are the true heartfelt moments of parenting magnified by time waited and hours practiced.
Not only do we honor the hard work but we absorb it as our own accomplishment alongside our children, because what parent doesn’t feel pride when celebrating their child’s accomplishments. Autism has given us the ability to slow things down, to watch the accomplishments that others take for granted, and circle our children in celebration.
Have a Tap Out Word or Phrase
When you are feeling at your brink when the noise is too much when the systems are too much when you can imagine your feelings pouring out of your body onto the floor in front of you, have a tap-out word.
Ask for help sometimes, it’s ok to say today has been too much, I need to go to bed early, I need to take a walk, or I need to eat a mountain of cake, alone in the dark, in my pajamas (this may be directly from my own experience).
Special needs parents are human, we all have our moments where we need to just tap out. If you have a person who can do that for you in your life don’t let the feelings of guilt come along with it. By taking a break you are honoring not only yourself but your family too. The fresh perspective you will come back to parenting with after a break might be just what you need to shift the energy around you.
Watch, Learn, and Grow
From the one and only Busta Rhymes, “If you don’t know now you know.” Every day we are learning from our experiences. What is behind us shapes where we are headed.
Learn as much as you can from your children, take them in as much as possible, even if they are in a dumping stage and everything from a bowl or plate lands on the floor, rub it into the carpet with them sometimes.
I knew nothing about autism before our children’s diagnosis.
I didn’t know the correct terminology, what was offensive to others, or what therapy would work best for them. I am still learning all the ins and outs of this world, and I am grateful for all the information out there. I am growing as a person, and I hope to take in as many perspectives that are out there as possible.
Written by, Tabitha Cabrera
Tabitha Cabrera, lives in Arizona with her husband, and two beautiful children. She works as an Attorney and enjoys spending her time in a public service role. The family loves nature and ventures outdoors as much possible. Come check out her little nature babies. She writes about their autism journey at peaceofautism.com, also on Facebook and Instagram.
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Finding Cooper’s Voice is a safe, humorous, caring and honest place where you can celebrate the unique challenges of parenting a special needs child. Because you’re never alone in the struggles you face. And once you find your people, your allies, your village….all the challenges and struggles will seem just a little bit easier. Welcome to our journey. You can also follow us on Facebook, subscribe for exclusive videos, and subscribe to our newsletter.
