Two Kinds of Parents

Got this as a forwarded email ... a lot of these apply to my own family.

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Moms, a stranger walks among you. We look like regular moms, but we are the hybrid to your standard engine. Our child's disability altered us, enhanced us. Many words describe us: resilient, creative, protective, emboldened, sympathetic, fierce and determined. We are special needs moms. How do our lives stand apart from your own? Take a look under the hood and see for yourself.

Regular Parents vs Special Needs Parents

by Dawn Villarreal, One Place for Special Needs, May 2010

Regular parents tell their kids to wake up and get dressed in the morning. And they do it.

Special needs parents put on battle gear to get our kids ready to start their day.

Regular parents ask their kids if they brushed their teeth.

Special needs parents prompt, “Brush your top teeth.  Brush your bottom teeth. Did you get the sides? Open your mouth. My God, give me that toothbrush! You’ve left half your meal in there!”

Regular parents wave goodbye as their kids run off to catch the school bus.

Special needs parents get awesome door-to-door bus service for their child.

photo borrowed from newyorkbussales.com

Regular parents know the names of all their friends.

Special needs parents know most of their friends by their usernames.

Regular parents judge other moms when kids have tantrums in stores.

Special needs parents say to themselves, “Hmm, I wonder which disability he has?”

Regular parents complain about driving their kids to sports and recreation classes.

Special needs parents grin and bear the weekly trips to tutors, doctors and therapists.

Regular parents' kids have a teacher.

Special needs parents' kids have a team.

photo borrowed from carrielink.blogspot.com

Regular parents talk about accomplishments.

Special needs parents talk about skills, as in play skills, conversation skills, life skills, social skills and vocational skills.

Regular parents relax with their kids during the summer.

Special needs parents start their second job as home teachers, therapists and skills coaches.

Regular parents think accommodations refer to hotels.

Special needs parents have memorized the top 20 accommodations for their child.

Regular parents hope their child finds a good career.

Special needs parents are hopeful someone gives our child the chance to work.

Regular parents soak in the tub when they want to unwind.

Special needs parents consider a bathroom break a luxury.

photo borrowed from guardian.co.uk

Regular parents enjoy reading the latest best selling book.

Special needs parents should receive an honorary degree for all the disability books they’ve read.

Regular parents go out for dinner and a movie with each other every month.

Special needs parents have a date night with each other every…wait, what decade is this?

Regular parents complain their kids won’t eat their vegetables.

Special needs parents are so desperate we consider chicken nuggets to be a legitimate meat product and throw in ketchup as a vegetable.

Regular parents' kids go to play groups.

Special needs parents' kids go to therapy groups.

Regular parents meet for a ladies night out.

Special needs parents get together at support groups and forums.

Regular parents have medical claim forms that fit in one file folder.

Special needs parents will tell you a small forest was cut down so we could receive our claims.

Regular parents think OT means overtime.

Special needs parents know more acronyms than a NASA engineer.