Parents of Special Kids Should Not Avoid the Obvious
Talking candidly, the life of a special child's parent is a journey made up of tough choices, mixed bag of emotions, constant need of support and information, and ferrying there child to and from clinics and special schools for disabled children.
Talking candidly,
the life of a special child's parent is a journey made up of tough choices, mixed bag of emotions, constant need of support and information, and ferrying there child to and from clinics and special schools for disabled children. Overwhelmed by all this, they seldom find the time to think about other things and least about themselves. While, the first reactions could be of denial, sudden loss, numbness, fear, anger and shattered, later the life becomes highly mechanized and occupied. Haven't comfortably indulged into the nitty-gritties of daily life as you avoid facing the glaring facts? Though, this could appear to be relieving at the moment, you are doing yourself much harm by neglecting the obvious. You should, and must find time for self-resurrection so that you continue to find that source of inner strength, which is much needed. While avoidance can hide the gap for a while it will never heal, and you need to come at peace with yourself before you could help your child get better. Even experts, are of the opinion that parents who don't give way to their emotional state tend to have an emotional breakdown at a later point of time. Some schools for the deaf, blind and mentally retarded children offer special counseling sessions for the parents of such children, wherein they are advised to take care of their physical and mental health.
Here are a few tips that will help you retain your strength and energy.
Meditation: Squeeze out half an hour before bed and early morning for a session of meditation. It gives you mental sanctity and eases out stress. It also promotes a deep slumber which in itself has rejuvenating effects, so that you are ready for the next day fresh and strong. You can even get your child to do this along with you as experts from special schools for disabled children suggest that it helps them invariably.
Communicate: Pushing away your trepidations won't do you any good, neither will you find a solution nor will they go away forever; instead, try to face them and voice them to others. Talk to your better half or other family members about it. You can also join communities and social groups of parents who are in the same boat. The experience is very inspiring and helpful. Not only can you find useful ways of handling your child as others might be doing, you would also find friends with whom you can talk as they would know exactly how it feels.
Councilors: Seek professional as often as you find necessary. Whenever you feel despair tugging upon you and you find it impossible to deal with it, you should consult a councilor as he has experience with other families and knows how to help you. It is not something to be ashamed of, as seeking help when required is a sign of strength and the fact that you haven't given up.