I wanted to write a post titled “you might be a special needs parent if”… you know, one of those real click baity typed articles that you see.
But then upon reflection, I realised that no two special needs parents are the same, just like how no two children are the same.
So I thought I’d make my own list… see which ones you can relate to!
I’d love to see examples from others that applies to their situation too.
I am a special needs parent…
And I wish I had £1 for every time I’ve got my clothes caught on a wheelchair handle.
I am a special needs parent, and I judge bags based on their ability to hold a mini hospital and a wardrobe
I am a special needs parent, and I go in shops and see boxes/baskets and storage as medical supply heaven
I am a special needs parent, and I turn up early for appointments; even though you know for a fact they were running late before even opened
I am a special needs parent, and I can spot another special needs parent or child a mile off
I am a special needs parent, and my conversations with special needs parent friends would not be understood by 99% of the population. Because we learned a language we didn’t know existed.
I am a special needs parent, and I see a huge disparity between how the world is, and how the world SHOULD be
I am a special needs parent and I fight battles everyday… but over time have learned to pick them more carefully
I am a special needs parent, and packing the car is like a real life game of Tetris (and unfortunately Jenga), even just for a trip to the shops
I am a special needs parent, and I can reel off every medicine and dose my child has… and take delight in the impressed reception I get every time I do it.
I am a special needs parent, and I have a name other than “mum”
I am a special needs parent, and I feel like I have to outlive my child. But I can’t bear the thought of losing her
I am a special needs parent, and I can change my child’s feed in the dark with my eyes shut. (Only to hear it occluding ten minutes later when I’m asleep)
I am a special needs parent, one moment I burst with happiness and pride; and the next I am overcome with grief and want to sleep all day
I am a special needs parent, and with my child… we either feel invisible… or like the spotlight is focused solely on us
I am a special needs parent, and I have witnessed my child endure things I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy
I am a special needs parent. My child can’t tell me how her day was. My child can’t tell me she loves me. She can’t tell me if she is in pain. So I have had to find a new way to listen
I am a special needs parent, and I don’t take a single thing for granted. Every smile is golden
I am a special needs parent, and I spend more time at the pharmacy or hospital than most other places
I am a special needs parent, and my job is 24 hour. The pay is nothing, there are no sick days or holidays. But I am eternally grateful to do what I do
I am a special needs parent. I am my child’s expert. No amount of textbook training, ward experience, or years of experience can account for the fact – that the parent knows their child like no one else ever could. And we need to be heard
I am a special needs parent, and I am learning everyday. I work hard to swallow my rage at the many injustices I see everyday in our society
I am a special needs parent. I get hit, slapped and kicked. I get nose bleeds, bruises, and fat lips, but I breathe, I get through it, and we move on
I am a special needs parent. Sometimes my life moves so fast that when I stop to process recent events I have a panic attack or night terrors
I am a special needs parent. I agonise daily over whether or not I am doing enough whilst simultaneously admitting I can’t do anything more
I am a special needs parent, and whilst I witness discrimination and inaccessibility; I have also never known such kindness. I have the most incredible support network and am grateful everyday
I am a special needs parent, and I spend my spare time learning the words to obscure nursery rhymes to impress my child. Her sensory needs for music are pretty extreme, and I live to make her giggle
I am a special needs parent, and I want your child to say hi to my child
I am a special needs parent, and through knowing my child, my life is enriched, and I see the world in an entirely different perspective
I am a special needs parent, and I feel great anguish when my child struggles with her challenges. But the pride that overrides it when she overcomes those challenges, is a feeling I can’t even begin to explain
Thanks for reading! Feel free to leave your additions to the post, I’d love to see them.