Eleven things I learned as a special needs parent

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1. Some people will never understand your children’s problems or issues including family, friends and teachers!
2. Your need to learn about research, treatments, differentiated learning, etc. never stops.
3. Your children still need you even when they think they do not.
4. Your children still need you even when you think they do not. It is easy to underestimate your children’s needs as they get older and make progress. Yet they may actually need you more.
5. Having a child with special needs takes a toll on relationships with friends and even your partner or spouse.
6. You probably know more than the “experts” about your children’s needs and how to address them.
7. You can never let your guard down and think the school or medical providers will tak

   

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   e care of your children’s needs.
8. The struggle never ends. Your fight for appropriate medical services and educational supports is constant.
9. You continuously analyze every decision you make about your children and wonder if you did the right thing.
10. Your determination to get your children what they need to reach their potential keeps you going.
11. Every now and then when you are tired and burnt out something happens…what was impossible becomes possible and you know everything you are doing is worth it.

I originally published this article on Examiner.com.