Additional Needs
Age Appropriate
by Jodi Shenal
on 26th April, 2024
15 New Years Resolutions for the Special Needs Parent
1) I will try to get some fresh air everyday.
2) I will allow treating providers and therapists to have less of an impact on my emotions and will not take their lack of confidence in my child to heart.
3) I will spend one day a week in my pajamas and not feel an ounce guilty about it.
4) I will search out new avenues of support and assistance and focus less on the dead-ends knowing something good will come through a new door.
5) I will organize and go through old paperwork and purge documents that are no longer necessary or relevant to my child’s care.
6) I will re-evaluate my child’s team and decide if a new doctor, therapist, care provider, durable medical equipment provider or specialist needs to be replaced.
7) I will be gentle with myself and be less critical if I can’t get it all done in a day.
8) I will treat myself to a time-out. Maybe that means I’ll paint my nails, read a book for 15 minutes, or sit down and finish a cup of coffee.
9) I will only check Web MD once monthly and not try to diagnosis new symptoms online.
10) I will work on quick comebacks for the insensitive comments that others say about my child with special needs.
11) I will find more joy than sadness even during the really hard and difficult times like insurance denials and government benefit battles.
12) I will do my best to accept invitations to get out into the community even if that means joining a friend for a cup of coffee.
13) I will not invest my time and energy to get family members and friends to accept our situation and will cling to those who already understand.
14) I will insist on second opinions about negative news and verdicts about my child’s health.
15) I will designate one day a week to no therapies, appointments or schedules to allow our family to enjoy each other’s company privately.
