Parenting neurodivergent children is a unique journey.
It can be lonely.
When my son was little, he had meltdowns that lasted for hours. Managing his outbursts impacted the whole household. Our after school activity was going to some type of therapy or medical professional. My other children spent a lot of time in waiting rooms. I would smile and laugh listening to other mothers as they shared funny anecdotes about the boardgames they played, or the silly stuff their child came up with during a playdate. But I felt like my parenting journey sounded very different from theirs.
It can be hard to know who to ask for help.
Or even to know for certain what intervention should be started first. Experts can inform us, point us toward the latest research, but they can’t determine “the best” treatment for our child. The decision is ultimately made by us, the parents. And it can be incredibly confusing to know what is “the best” for our kiddo when so many interventions involve dealing with frustration, uncomfortable side effects, and incremental gains.
It can be unexpectedly amazing.
We may not have a child who will get a driver’s license, live independently, or stop needing us to be their caregiver. They may not hit any of the imagined milestones we held in our thoughts when we found out a new baby was on the way. But they can profoundly enrich our lives. But we need to get support ourselves so that we can continue to find ways to support them.
Taking care of yourself is an essential part of being a caretaker to others. Counseling can address issues such as burn out, loneliness, and emotions surrounding medical and psychological diagnoses. It can help you gain clarity about your family’s needs, boundaries, and choices when you are caring for a specials needs child and/or considering long term care of a child with special needs. Contact me to set up a free 20 minute consultation. I would love to become part of your support system.