Parents of Special Needs Kids ROCK!!!
by Kelly Essem Whistler on Monday, May 9, 2011 at 7:31am
30 Reasons Why Moms and Dads of Kids With Special Needs ROCK
1) Because we never thought that "doing it all" would mean doing this much. But we do do it all -- and then some.
2) Because we've discovered patience we never knew we had.
3) Because we are willing to do something 10 times, 100 times or 1,000 times if that's what it takes to help our kids learn something new.
4) Because we have heard doctors tell us the worst, and we weed through their information to take what will benefit our children. Take THAT naysaying doctors of the world!
5) Because we have bad days and breakdowns and bawl-fests, and then we pick ourselves up and keep right on going.
6) Because we don't notice the stares, the comments, the rude remarks...our love and proudness outshines them all
7) Because we manage to get ourselves together and get out the door looking pretty damn good.Well, at least we make it out the door! Heck, we even make sweatpants look good!
8) Because we are strong. Who knew we could be this strong?
9) Because we aren't just moms, wives, cooks, cleaners, chauffeurs and women who work. We are moms, wives, cooks, cleaners, chauffeurs, women who work, physical therapists, speech therapists, occupational therapists, developmental therapists, vision therapists, hearing therapists, teachers, researchers, nurses, equipment specialists, supply clerk, inventory control, pharmacists ,co-ordinators, schedulers, family therapists, child advocates, speakers, accounts payable/medical bill specialists, coaches and cheerleaders. Whew!
10) Because we work overtime every single day.
11) Because we also worry overtime, but we work it through. Or we eat chocolate, ice cream, or fried food (which aren't reimbursable by insurance as mental-health necessities, but should be).
12) Because we are more selfless than other moms. Our kids need us more.
13) Because we give our kids with special needs endless love, and then we still have so much love left for our other kids, our husbands, our families. And our friends, of course.
14) Because we can adapt to minimal sleep.
15) Because we understand our kids better than anyone else -- even if they can't talk; even if they can't gesture; even if they can't look us in the eye. We know. We just know.
16) Because we never stop pushing and advocating for all our kids.
17) Because we never stop hoping for them, either.
18) Because just when it seems like things are going OK, they're suddenly not OK, but we deal. Somehow, we always deal -- even when it seems like our heads or hearts might explode.
19) Because when we look at our kids, we just see great kids -- not kids with cerebral palsy/autism/Down syndrome/developmental delays/whatever
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20) Because we take our knowledge learned and pass it on...to others, or to help our other children
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21) Because impossible doesn't mean limits in our world, it means a goal.
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22) Because we learn from our children and understand they have more to teach us than some adults do!
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23) Because we know a world where trust takes on new meaning
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24) Because to the world we are one, but to one...we are the world
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25) Because although we once thought we couldn't do it, we've found...we can!
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26) Because when others feel sorry for us, we only see how Blessed we are and we pray for them!
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27) Because we get to savor every developmental milestone longer than other parents do
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28) Because we witness miracles all around us
29) Because we are humbled by the courage our children have
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30) Because every birthday celebrates 365 days joy, triumphs, love, faith, hope, togetherness, Love, and Peace that we know we are where we are meant to be!
Yes!!! I couldnt agree more. No 6 & 26 have special appeal :-)
ReplyDeleteI became a special needs educator thinking I had so much to give, and teach children with special needs. I never knew how much I would learn from my students, how much they had to give. I have also learned so much from their parents. It was through them I learned to have the strength I needed to help my daughter when she developed a severe mental illness in her early teens. She is an adult now and it is still a daily struggle for both of us. Number 8 & 29 has special appeal to me :-)
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