PARENTAL ADVICE
When Loving Your Special
Needs Child Also Means
Taking Care of You
By Emily DAVIDSON
Peace. It’s what we all want, right? The
problem is that we have to fight to get
that peace, which feels like we’re going
in circles. Every parent feels this way
from time to time like we’re running
around all crazed and nothing is getting
done while a tornado of “to-do” stuff is
tearing everything apart around us and
no one can see it happening.
O
ne day, I suddenly realized that I was my own
worst enemy when it came to achieving this
peace. I can’t remember the exact day, but in
my tornado of craziness, a day came about
that I had this realization. I’m sure I was wear-
ing two-day-old, stained sweatpants and my
hair was in messy pigtails. Whatever I was
wearing, it doesn’t matter, because this was the day
that I decided I couldn’t raise my daughter all on my
own.
Now, let me just say that I have an amazing husband
who helps me in every possible way, so when I say
“me” and I really mean “we.” I also have an incredible
support network made up of my church family, rela-
tives, teachers, and friends. I’m one of the lucky ones,
and I definitely know it. God bless all of those amazing
people.
I realized that I was trying so hard to not bother my
loved ones by