What We Do

Raising Special -A 22q Mom Blog Post

You are here

Guest post by Christine O'Driscoll
Tags: 

As I come to the end of my day, sipping on my last cup of java to push through the last few hours, I catch myself thinking "Where  did the day go?". How come I feel like I didn't get anything  done?  My "to do" list is ever growing.  Call this specialist, follow up on that lab, work with my daughter on her sense of time, remind her to take her meds, help her organize her room, get her to her tutor, run get groceries, don't forget the prescriptions, pick her up, make her lunch, remind her to take her meds, work on laundry skills, help practice piano, make dinner, welcome the other kids home, do homework, work around a meltdown, fold the laundry, remind my daughter to take her meds, get everyone to bed, research her latest symptoms, look for a solution, and finally melt into the couch.

CAN ANYONE RELATE?

It dawned on me when speaking with another mom, that there are many little things that we do each day that add up to something significant to our kids with special needs. It's being there.  Being consistent, and being patient.  Our lives are harried....there is no way around it short of moving everyone out to the middle of nowhere and growing our own food. So, how do we raise our special kids and accomplish something?  One little thing at a time.  Our 22q deletion syndrome kids have to battle A LOT!  Did I mention they have to battle A LOT?  From physical conditions, immunity issues, cognitive impairments, to social exclusion. Guh! Hit me in the gut.  So, in their harried world, it is the calm, quiet, little things that can make the biggest impact.
 

What did I do today?  I gave a few hugs, I helped, I was there.  And sometimes when you're raising special....that's good enough for today. Take the time to remind parents that are also raising their "special" that they are doing a tremendous job. Give them a hug, be there, and sometimes just be still and listen.  Raising special is demanding, tough work, but is often rewarded with the best smiles, kind hearts and new friends found in the "special" community.  And you know what? You're special too. Hugs.  Your Bio: I am a mother of 4 kids and wife to an outstanding husband.  Our oldest daughter is 18, diagnosed at 10, with 22q.11 deletion syndrome. She is in her second year of vocational training and is LOVING her internship at a local bookstore.  Blessed with many talents, our daughter loves to sing and play piano.  She also spends time writing great stories.

 

Guest Blogger Photo: 

What We Do