"It's just a fact, not a complaint." We say that so often. When sharing something that might come across as a compliant in the everyday care of our son (Joey) with special needs, when experiencing a challenging behavior, or relating some hardship that special needs...
How often do we say, "I'm fine" when asked “How are you?” We know the answer: all the time. And we know why: It takes much too much effort and emotion at times to say how we really are. Sometimes the care, concerns, and challenges we deal with having a child(ren) with...
A picture is worth a thousand words, they say. But, some pictures are worth so much more. Our daughter, son-in-law, and sons have opened their hearts and home to foster care. One time they welcomed a “family” of several siblings. We observed each child, while...
Getting ready each day for school is one thing for our typically developing children, but often quite another for our children with special needs. And when we say “special needs” we know there is a great spectrum of various degrees in each diagnosis. So trying to sift...
In the mess of marriage and special needs, we must be proactive about finding ways to keep family life and married life exciting…so we’re here to share some help in seeking adventure! We often say to each other, “You drive me crazy, but I’m still crazy about you!” If...
The life of special needs creates a list of changes in many if not most of our relationships, most notably our family and marriage. How can we even hope for a thriving marriage when we are exhausted, needing sleep, desiring some perks in life to give me a minute to...
How do we value those that we love in our life? By touching them appropriately and lovingly in body, soul, and spirit where we learn the key to connection. Studies have been done observing children in orphanages who have been given food and are kept clean and healthy...
Life challenges can trip us up, but they don’t have to. How we handle challenge has to do with our attitudes and perspectives. No one gets through life without challenge, but those of us living the life of caring for one(s) with special needs, we know it’s an unending...
No matter the abilities or disabilities our child(ren) have with special needs, when they hurt, we hurt. When they struggle, we struggle, when they need help, we want to help, and when they are victorious, so are we. For those whose children are diagnosed with special...
A parent or caregiver of someone with special needs, needs the ability to bounce back. There was a time we asked each other, “What would it take (not that we want to experience it) for us to hit a breaking point?” We don’t have a list of times we thought we were...
Anytime is a good time to learn to listen. These statements are great places to start in the month of “love” as we share cards, gifts, and time with others. It’s a skill that can be learned and we will be all the better for it. In our family, we are still learning and...
Kingdom Focus is what first comes to mind. Those of us who are married and have someone in our life with special needs for whom we have responsibility (often 24/7 and 365!) know that without focus, we are doomed. AND for those of us who are believers in Jesus, we add...
While we’ve had many years of travel speaking together on marriage, discipleship, and other topics, we are seldom alone and “just us”. Cindi’s sister and now our daughters Kristina and Kathleen and families have and will care for Joey when we have a ministry...
The world might seem to have a lot to offer, but as it applies to the caring of a child or loved one with special needs, it offers us things that won’t make us happy and won’t deliver what we need. The world will always lack authenticity and the act of serving will not be very high on the rung of the ladder, by world standards.
When we care for our child(ren) with special needs, it’s self-sacrificing. It is more than a “job” as some might say, it is an undertaking (as one of my friends shared so succinctly with me). Yet some of us have a different level and depth of care. Although our son needs 24/7 attention and care, he can do a good number of things on his own. Cindi Ferrini shares the difference between Self-less and Selfless.
Watching the news and seeing trials and challenges on many levels we’ve come to understand that until “it” happens to us, it’s often not important. People in leadership (politicians, leaders making rules, business owners running businesses, and parents raising children) will all make decisions that affect others but until it affects them….it won’t always be seen as important or necessary to consider other options of how to engage, care, or help. Cindi Ferrini writes on what do even when we don’t want to…
Moms: When Do We Get to Celebrate? Celebration for moms is scheduled in May; but I’m wondering when does it really happen? Cindi Ferrini writes about Mother’s Day and how to celebrate moms to kids with special needs.
Like a new outfit that looks crisp and sharp or an old outfit that is so worn out it’s comfy and we wear it all the time….is often how we wear the banner of the special needs journey. How does it look on us? On you? Is our attire crisp and sharp or rather worn out? Cindi Ferrini writes on how YOU wear special needs and caregiving.
Seeing many of our friends on social media taking trips to Japan, Italy, France, Greece, Egypt, and all around the USA, keeps us ever mindful that our feet are firmly planted in the nation of “caring for special needs”. But what if if several couples take turns getting to know the needs of this family and meeting those needs, so you can make a “WEEKEND TO REMEMBER” happen for them?
Our choosing to serve God must be taken seriously. We will have many opportunities in our everyday dealings to decide who we will serve. We must decide what, or to whom we will choose to serve, and how. We need help to choose His will over our own, because we know that He knows what is best for us. In this, we will have amazing gratitude because of what we’ve learned, how we’ve grown, and how we serve
Oswald Chambers said, “It’s easy to say, ‘Fret not,’ but a very different thing to have such a disposition that you find yourself able not to fret.” In today’s post, Cindi identifies the key that makes a life without fretting possible, even for families with disabilities and special needs.
The school year is in full swing. Parents and children know what to do to make academics and extracurricular activities a priority. Applying this process to our own lives, ask yourself, “Is our marriage a priority? Here are six areas to help you and your spouse make your marriage a priority, starting today.
Do you ever think your everyday spiritual life shows little progress in growing spiritually? In our spiritual lives, we’d love to have the fast progression that everyone notices. Realistically, our learning is slow but hopefully steady!
Cindi Ferrini has first-hand experience as a grandparent to two beautiful girls her daughter and son-in-law are fostering. She shares five important ways to support, help, and encourage foster parents
Because life with a child/adult child with special needs doesn’t change or age out—long-term caregiving has an effect on our marriage. To prevent our relationship from crumbling, we need to be sure that we don’t let the stress of caregiving override and overwhelm us.
None of us will parent perfectly—so let’s take that pressure off our shoulders! But, we will always teach our children, whether we model life indirectly, as they watch and then model us, or teach directly through instruction.
Joe and I would like to share some thoughts that might have you thinking, “I could use a little help by going to therapy.” Whether your marriage is in a tough place, you’re wondering if you’re doing the right things to help your children, or you have a special needs family and are struggling—consider therapy to get life in order.
Because caregiving can be, and often is, a full-time job, we need to understand that although great satisfaction can come from caring for a loved one, some outcomes can put the caregiver at risk as well. Like the tension on a piece of elastic, we can handle tension and frustration for a long time; but eventually, something has to give. Cindi Ferrini shares 11 self-care ideas for caregivers.
Even though our celebration of Valentine’s Day has passed, there are things we can do every day to show we love each other and care for one another. It is a choice, but it takes work. Being a caregiver for our loved ones with special needs can put a lot of pressure on our marriage. Joe and Cindi Ferrini share 10 tips to strengthen your marriage.
Cindi Ferrini shares one mistake that people often make in conversation. She realized how difficult it is to allow others to share their “moment” without interruption.
Have you ever found yourself in a time of waiting? Maybe it was for test results, a health issue, your loved ones’ diagnosis, a job, marriage, or….? During that time of waiting, how did you respond? We do not always understand why we go through challenges and frustrating times of waiting but what we do have control over is our reaction to this waiting period.
When you are a caregiver, serving loved ones with disabilities is a 24/7 commitment. What happens when the caregiver is out of commission?
“I don’t see anything wrong with that child.” Give it 10 minutes; give it an hour. Take time to be with “that child” or “that adult,” and then you will be able to discern what makes them different, where they excel, and where they need additional help.
We often think school is all about our kids, and a lot of it is, but a lot also rests on us as parents. As parents of a child with special needs, our attitude and how we approach teachers and situations are invaluable. Here are 12 Ways to Prepare Yourself for Back to School as a Caregiver.
Assistive communication technology was a big help for our son through school and his past 15-year work experience. Having limited speech until he was 12, our now 41-year-old son has found that sign language and this simple technology have aided him in better expressing himself. Each individual affected by special needs has various and different needs, abilities, and disabilities. By getting creative, you can tailor solutions specifically for your child to help them express their needs.
Special needs may put a particular challenge on travel, depending on our child’s needs. While there are places many of us can take our kids, there is the realization that sometimes we might have to say no to a lot of things we wish we could do. For those who can’t travel with your child or loved one with special needs (for whatever reason), I have another idea. The possibilities are endless if you begin to think outside the travel box.
What’s overwhelming you right now? How might overwhelm be conquered in your life? Here are some things we learned when we were in an overwhelming season, things that might work for you, too.
Hot days, no rain, and my flowers were wilted and exhausted, bent over and looking depleted. I gave every flower a good drink, and soon could see those flowers starting to come back to life. If only a glass of cold water could replenish what we’re lacking….but can we really get refreshed? Here are five ways to get what you need.
While recently listening to an afternoon radio program about “worry,” the woman being interviewed was asked, “I know God says not to worry, but how do we NOT worry?” When we worry, we don’t trust that God can make a way for us. For many of us, we’ve had years to learn this, and are still learning. What’s the key?
We all have quirks, and even in life with disabilities there are perks. But none of us have to be jerks! Here are some wise words from Cindi Ferrini on how to be Christ-like and honor Him, no matter our circumstances.
Are you willing to spend and be spent; not seeking to be ministered unto, but to minister?
It’s sometimes hard to say that our kids with special needs are someone special, when things drive us crazy with their repetitive verbalizations, when we can’t sleep because they are up all night, when we’re exhausted, and the list goes on and on. But always, always, we get to a point that we see our child/children with the uniqueness of God’s fingerprint on them.
Do you feel behind and are you experiencing the pressure of the Christmas season? I have learned that it is best if I work a little throughout the year in order to be ready for the holidays. Here are some tips to help caregivers enjoy this season.
Whether you have typically developing children or children with special needs, there are others who seem to have an answer for why your child is misbehaving, not talking or walking on time, or a myriad of other developmental or behavioral issues. All along the way, we tried to employ a few simple words and thoughts that helped us get through those “suggestions,” that may help you, too.
The nearly 6” of paperwork in a huge binder traveled with me to most every meeting where our son’s special needs were discussed. Here’s why it is important to keep hard copies of all your records.
As a “child forever,” we realize that our adult son isn’t going to consider us in his day to day living. He isn’t going to think, “Oh, Mom and Dad could use a little time together.” To keep from being frustrated, we have found a few things helpful.
The times I’ve had to wait for a doctor I’ve just had to say or do something. Why? Because my time is important, too, and for a child with special needs who can’t sit still, let alone wait for long periods of time, it’s really difficult to expect good behavior. Here are three ways I got doctors’ office staff to hear me, see me and avoid lengthy waits.
A spirit of adventure has helped us care for Joey, and sustain us these past 40 years, and hopefully into future years. We chose to make the journey an adventure something like this, both from and to these five things.
Whether it’s with my neighbors, the people with whom I minister; my family, my friends, the people with whom I disagree, or people I just don’t really care for, I realize that I need to be mindful of my directive: to sincerely want and need to CONNECT more than I want to CONFRONT. Here are some quick and easy steps for each of us to consider and when to take action.
Moms (and probably Dads, too) are constantly analyzing in the rearview mirror of life what we did right and wrong. I have worked very hard at being an intentional and “always there” mom. Due to that very fact, I have had much opportunity in our special needs life to make plenty of mistakes. Here are a few thoughts regarding my parenting that I did right (good) things, and some wrong (not so good) things!
The child was about 12 years old and weighed about that many pounds or a few more. As a young high school aged student, I didn’t know how to relate, respond, or inquire about my friends’ sibling that I was seeing—not meeting—for the first time. I’d known my friend for at least three years, and not once did my friend mention this sibling. It was my first introduction to someone having a family member with special needs.
The greatest commandment is our call as Christ followers to disciple others. Discipleship is not complicated or costly; but it takes time and effort. Here are some examples of how anyone can be discipled and make disciples, including special needs families.
We all love our children with special needs, caring for them with all the love we have inside of us. While love is the biggest most important thing we have going for us in this unexpected journey, there are indeed other things needed to get us to the finish line! Here are five that have been important to our family.
We have a saying, “What we do isn’t always fun, comfortable, or easy, but we do what is right.” Here are four ways to know that you’re on the right track as a special needs parent.
Inclusion and mainstreaming have long been a back and forth quandary for classrooms and school, but what about family functions and social life issues? Cindi and Joe Ferrini offers seven ways they try to give their son some social life experiences to “fit in” that may work for your family too, just in time for holiday gatherings.
Pregnancy goes hand in hand with this common saying. However, after having a child with special needs, we changed our response. Here’s what we’ve learned why that common saying isn’t most important thing in pregnancy.
Some marriages have moments of disappointment, some have challenges that are discouraging, and some might even be in dangerous and dysfunctional situations that can be devastating. whether you have a loved one with special needs or not, all marriages may show tire marks on the road that give us cause to stop and see what is needed to make the relationship better. Here are lists to help determine if you need marriage mentoring or counseling, and what each can accomplish.
When I consider the story of these gloves, I recognize how God really cared about the tiniest of details. I have enjoyed watching how He’s done the same in the life of my son with special needs (as well as his 2 sisters!). Over and over, the Lord has provided in ways that show His care to detail.
Folks with special needs often have lives that are simple. I didn’t say easy; I said simple. As Joey’s parents, the simplicity of his life has overflowed into ours, and we’ve learned a lot. Here are a few things that have helped simplify life for us.
Over time, some wonderful things have come about that really do help us in this special needs journey. But while helpful, we also look upon some things we’ve experienced with different thoughts. Sometimes we’ve felt like we were pitied. Other times, we look back and are puzzled. Yet most of all, we are pleased! Let’s walk through our list together!
Most men enjoy elements of competition in sports, education or career pursuits. And in the case of men who become a dad of a child with special needs, well, they quickly learn that their son or daughter isn’t going to perform, work, think, or be like other children. While we can still make sports analogies, the way it plays out is very different than expected. Instead of being in the sports arena with your child, Dad will be called to be a good sport in life! Here are three ways that God has helped us be good sports.
Whether we’re talking about our marriage relationship or relationships with friends, acquaintances or someone we’ve just met, I believe we have mastered the art of monologue and have no real idea how to have a genuinely sincere conversation. Here are ideas to help us to learn the “art of conversation” rather than the monotonous monologue we’re used to enduring or offering.
Many of us are being asked, “How has social distancing and the quarantine impacted you?” Special needs or not, we all are affected and impacted by this time of quarantine. With that thought, here are a few things to realize together as we all readjust to a new normal of quarantine.
We are all basically under quarantine until further notice. Life as we’ve known it has come to a screeching halt, and not just for some, but for everyone! You may be used to spinning a lot of plates all at once, and might even have a little anxiety wondering “what to do” with some of this free time. Here are six ideas that will create closer relationships in your family, whether or not you’re in the special needs community.
We all have times when we feel we’re not heard, loved, noticed, cared for, or appreciated by our spouse. In the world of caring for one with special needs, caregivers are often going, caring, and serving with little rest or reserve for one another. That is dangerous. Here are some things to consider to protect your most important relationship, your marriage.
During some seasons of our life, we had what seemed to be no free time whatsoever; at other times, we had some. We’ve had seasons when we don’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. But over time, we have purposed to take back the sound track of our life and change some of the noise into music we want to hear. We’ve learned the freedom experienced when we don’t have a lot of plates spinning. What are some things we can do to get to that place? Here are a few thoughts that with a little creativity can help us embrace this place.
I hear the music and sway to it with a smile, but do I really feel that way? Do you feel that way? I can honestly say that sometimes the added pressure of buying and wrapping gifts, decorating, sending greetings, baking, and all the rest can be very overwhelming. To help me in this process, I’ve had to put a few things in place that sometimes gets laughs, maybe even ridiculed. Here are a few thing that have helped in my life and for our family.
For those of us who are married for better or worse, we’re in it to win it. That’s the easy part because it’s just saying the words, but in real life, we know that many of us in the world and journey of special needs need real help to make it to the finish line. Those...
Prayer is great, and always the first thing we should do, but that is the prayer part. How might the care part look? It might be something simple.
Often, when we talk about our children with special needs, we talk about their limitations, challenges, and the things they have accomplished. It’s always a joy to share the victories in the midst of what is often a lot of work, scheduling, and coordinating a lot of people to help make it happen. But as parents of Joey who is 38, we are also very aware that while we have a lot we need to do with and for him, there are also a lot of things we’ve never had to worry about or be concerned about.
Getting away for coffee or a trip out of town for a weekend for those of us caring for someone with special needs is really a luxury. So, when my (Cindi’s) sister and our two daughters and sons-in-law offered to tag team care for Joey, we booked a trip almost on the spot. We made a plan for our escape! Here’s how we made the trip great for us and for Joey.
Most of us on this special needs journey put on a good face in public, but often behind closed doors we are weary, tired, sometimes frustrated, along with other challenging word choices. But we are most thankful and grateful for the stress, because of all we have learned in the midst of it. We realize that if everything went smoothly, if everything was simple and easy, we wouldn’t have any need for or room for God in our lives. We’d go with the flow, enjoy the smooth ride on the river of life, and seldom need to paddle because the ride would be so effortless.
As we journeyed through different challenges with our son Joey, one of the dearest things was knowing that others were praying for us. When someone told us they were praying for us, it made our day. Just to know another person or a family had our back in prayer meant the world to us.
Most likely a fantastic husband will also be a fantastic father. And it’s important to realize it might not happen overnight.
As young parents on this special needs journey, we retired at the end of every day waving our white surrender flag! It wasn’t that we were quitting but we certainly knew we were done and had nothing left at the end of that day. This is where the church can be an invaluable source of help.
There is a certain level of comfort and safety in a trench. It’s not really the place you want to be, but you have some safety and comfort knowing you are protected. We have friends that are in trenches right next to us, so we all feel we understand what the other is going through. We see when there is a battle brewing, and sometimes we even hop into each other’s trenches! We know we’re on a level field of challenge, and being together helps us to get through the battle before us. We can’t be in the same trench and work against one another.
We need to learn what works for our family, and it’s not always us who can take the reins to start a ministry when our plates are so full with the needs before us. Thus, when a church has a ministry to special needs, the thinking and the work has been taken off our plate. We can embrace the opportunities before us, which lightens our load and helps us in this journey.
Caring for someone with special needs has been difficult, as we carry the heavy burden of 24/7 care for someone. This leaves us feeling taxed.
When it comes to special needs, rather than try to do everything myself, the Church has the opportunity to come together to unify the body of Christ.
We need to realize we can teach old dogs new tricks, swap out old shoes for new, and get moving in a new direction that works for us. Ask for help. Change. Move forward. You (and we) can do it!
If we say we love, then we must put our love into action.
While we might all hope that we’ll get to go out to dinner, get flowers, or open that special box of candy….when it doesn’t happen, let’s remember that perhaps it didn’t happen because we were in the middle of doing what was right.
Getting away from the daily challenges in everyone’s every day life is refreshing, but when you are caring for one or more people in your family who need 24/7 care and attention, it’s an extra blessing.
What’s ahead in 2019? For many of us, what tops the list is caring for ourselves. Likely we’ve gotten really good at caring for others, making decisions we know are good for them, and following through, but sometimes we forget about us.
Spreading ourselves too thin and not being able to relax is a very stressful part of the holidays, so taking a look at events and opportunities before we respond is so very helpful to each of us—host and guest alike!
To our typical kids, it may seem like our family member with disabilities is getting extra attention and even gifts this time of year. Cindi and Joe remind us to have good communication so no one feels neglected.
Parents of children with disabilities often can’t get away for an extended time because they lack caretakers. This gets harder as the child gets older. But church families can help! Cindi shares how.
Often when we are sharing challenges, we cloak it with, “This is not a complaint, it’s just a fact.” Let us show you how that looks and sounds!
We have a long way to go to meet every need, but as we meet one and then another, more will be accomplished in loving and serving others.
When looking at opportunities for our adult children, we have to keep their worth and dignity in mind!
We get dressed up for church and come into the building with smiles on our faces, because there is nothing like a grump to turn people away. But because we put on a good face, few ever inquire how we are really doing. WHY? Because we make it look easy—we have to. We do daily what we must do.
While waiting will probably never be a welcomed or desired necessity, there are gifts in the waiting. But wait! Sometimes we have to look for them!
We appreciate, whether at church or elsewhere in public, when we aren’t looked at like we’re bothering someone!
Thirty-seven years after our son’s birth, we’re so thankful we gained a right perspective to go the distance with him and in our marriage together. We didn’t think we could do it, and that is correct—we needed the Lord and are so thankful He was and continues to be always with us!
Let’s all remember that just because we’re in church as Christians doesn’t mean we think first. We all need to consider our thoughts and words and show sensitivity to others in their hard places
Cindi helps us see the importance of good paperwork organization, for our own benefit and for those who will care for our children in the future.
Adulthood can be a challenging time for us to find a caregiver for our adult child. The criteria differ from the usual care of a little one.
Living in a home where one person requires so much more time and attention than the others, it’s easy to neglect by default the very relationships you want to nourish! So, we found it wise to check up on those relationships to be sure they were thriving.
Could your church find and train a point person—someone who could come alongside parents after a diagnosis and help them with encouragement and hope?
How can we react when things don’t go as planned? Cindi Ferrini shares what helps her!
Having had the opportunity to hear a lot of “expert” advice over the 36+ years of raising my son, here are some things I’d like to offer as my own “expert” advice to the many wonderful people who will come in contact with a person with special needs and/or their family at some time in their lives.
With our kids, let’s make sure we do what we can when we can to help them with details!
While I’ve never trained as an Olympian, there are a few things we have in common, and for that, I’m an Olympian of sorts!
The beauty of this kind of journey of caring and serving is that it is daily. We had daily practice and thus learned little by little what we needed to accomplish a lifetime of care for our son
Cindi introduces us to a family she and Joe have gotten to know well and encourages us to reach out in the same way.
We have come to enjoy the deficits, the challenges, the tenderness, and all of the fun victories and joys. Sometimes we have to look for them, but we love getting to share those stories. I hope you’ll take time to look for, embrace, and enjoy sharing yours, too!
Here are some WONDER-fully simple ways to begin to engage with those who have obvious (and not so obvious) disabilities or differences:
The more you get to know those with special needs, the less you’ll wonder about them and the more you’ll enjoy your time with them, and they with you!
Let’s all be people of our word and follow through with our initial intentions even if it’s not always easy, comfortable, or fun.
We need to take the time when we can (even if it’s not often) to get away, do something special, and get to know each other again!
No small group will be perfect, but having an intentional direction with some of these ideas in place would have kept the group from trying to top each others stories and been more welcoming, trusting, and engaging—the goal of any small group who has a like purpose.
During this month of THANKSGIVING we give thanks for and to those who’ve lightened our load, helped Joey grow and become a very wonderful young man, given Joey breaks from us, and us from him, emotionally lifted us up in times of challenge, kept us on all the “right foot” when we want to give up, and well, that list goes on and on, too!
No matter where you see someone with special needs and their family; find them. Find them out. Seek them. You might have just found a new fast friend.
Sometimes we have to get creative to find solutions to the problems we face again and again. (Like getting our kids to put their shoes on!)
Let’s seek their gifts, talents, and treasures and help them to be a part of a ministry not just a program.
As we pray for those who’ll be affected by Irma’s winds and water and possible great loss, let’s also pray for those receiving news for the first time of the loss of dreams for their child
We can’t appreciate another too much. Let’s take care of the care-takers!
Find someone who is a little down the road in this journey of life and ask him or her for help. And then, when you get to a place you can help another, be there for someone younger.
I know that I’m not all that special, but I am definitely blessed. All of us can be if we just put our next step forward, volunteer, and see what it’s all about.
We’ve come to grips with the kind of care we need to give and the issue of free time in a few ways. Maybe a few of these will scratch you where you itch today on your journey …
It’s not always easy to cast and include those with special needs in other various activities in the church who are nonverbal, noisy, active, and “unable”… but when someone does … they’re the ones who become the real star.
We can all help our own children by helping them get to the next step, and along the way they just might become that miracle for which we prayed.
Building a bridge is always better than tearing them down. Bridges allow us to journey to a place we long to go! Our journey will be so much sweeter with others at our side, and we at their side. We need to reach out to build that bridge. What might YOU do to make that happen?
Sometimes we need to put ourselves into the shoes of another and ask some of the questions that will help us to understand the challenges and struggles others might be facing.
In normal every day life, and even more so with our children with special needs who are often hard to understand, we must be totally engaged, fully listening and tuning in to understand what others are saying both verbally and emotionally. Here are a few things I’ve learned along the way:
When a child with special needs enters the church, there is no one like the parents who knows and gets what their child needs.
Even when we find ourselves in uncomfortable or strange situations, we can make ourselves and others feel better when we start with a smile!
While you are most likely not THE one to head up the ministry at your church, you must learn to have a mindset of serving others outside of your home, and outside of the one you care for daily.
Those of us caring for children with disabilities are used to hearing people say things like, “They look fine to me.” Cindi shares how she responds.
If there is anything for which I want to count the cost, may it be simply love.
We’re never sure how things will turn out for any given situation, we’ve learned some important things to help us to weather the storms of change and challenge …
Most of us have so much and aren’t content. He has little and appreciates it all. Lesson learned. Thank you, Joey, for your heart of appreciation, the thankfulness you expressed, and how you are teaching all of us and don’t even know it.
As I’ve observed my son Joey’s (special needs/age 35) response to people and situations, his filtering processing is amazing. Unlike me, his filter seems to keep in what one should and let pass through only what is good.
For the parents of an adult with special needs, a social life is really difficult—for us and for our loved one.
A few simple things planned ahead can help you feel good about leaving your child with special-needs.
Words of encouragement to the caregiver will be welcomed and appreciated. Thinking ahead to what you’ll say is better than blurting out the first thing that comes into your head.
When quitting is exactly what our kids need us to do.
Applying for the motherhood job doesn’t have an automatic “no quit” clause and it’s a good thing, because the joys far outweigh the challenges, and sometimes it takes times to recognize that!
Having an adult son with special needs often means dinner for 3!