Becoming A Working Parent Of A Child With Special Needs

Posted by Claire Smyth on 30th December 2015 Additional Needs, Advice & Support, Disabilities

Becoming A Working Parent Of A Child With Special Needs

I can’t wait to be on the active register again and hopefully land a great part-time job.

On the other hand, I worry how I’ll be able to juggle looking after the girls, between family and nurses and daddy covering care.

I’ll be an hour away in University, and doing my work placements – it’ll be an intense 3 months!

I sometimes question am I wise trying to pursue a career despite my children needing so much attention.

Especially my youngest Brielle, who needs constant 1:1 care.

That all being said, it does feel like the right time for me to return to practice.

My eldest is almost 11 years old, and Brielle who has many additional needs is in school now full time and is almost 5 years old (with two girls in between them).

I’m a busy mama for sure, but life has been, and is, so fulfilling, and fun!

Since the girls are all at school now, I have my mornings and early afternoons free most days!

I’m excited at the prospect of getting out of the house, and doing something for me!

As parents, we are usually so focused on the needs of our little ones, putting our own needs on the back-burner.

For my own sanity, I need some space.

I think working for me, will be a form of respite.

Going back to work for me is going to be rewarding, as I’ll be working as part of a team and enjoy the responsibility and job satisfaction away from my family.

What a privilege to be valued as a capable and caring nurse.

I have no regrets when it comes to the past 10 years of staying home with the kids.

I’ve been a mother and in many instances, an at-home nurse for my ‘baby’ Brielle.

I can’t believe she’s in school and growing up so fast!

She is medically complex with many special needs due to extreme prematurity.

Boy has she come a long way from those early days.

We are thankful every day that she’s still here.

I’m blessed to have a supportive husband and family who have encouraged me along every step of the way, and will get stuck in when it comes to helping out with the kids.

It’s an exciting new chapter for us, and I sure hope we all benefit from, ‘mommy’, getting out of the house, at least sometimes.