Special Needs Family Resolutions
Rebecca Shayler-Adams
We are just a typical family muddling along our day to day lives. 4 kids, 1 with autism, 1 with an unknown neuromuscular condition
I guess if push comes to shove, my resolutions have always been to make the most out of the year and to try and smile more times than I cry.
I have never had any real resolutions, like lose weight, spend less money, go on holiday or complete a bucket list.I asked my children what they want to do in the New Year and explained that this is a resolution.
They all stood and thought for a while before responding;
8 year old: to be able to draw like Daddy.
5 year old: to know more dinosaur roars.
4 year old: to laugh.
I love how innocent, how simple their resolutions are. They are not wanting to gain anything (or lose weight).
The resolutions aren’t really to do anything particularly outlandish and they are all rather achievable.It was very humbling to see the aim of the year to come from a child’s perspective.
I then asked them what they think their baby sister’s resolution would be if she understood what we were saying.
To say her first word.To walk.
To eat food not from pouches.
Their resolutions for their sister rolled off their tongues so fast.
Although we have never said your sister is different to other babies, they know.
They are just so encouraged by her determination and they are so proud of their sister to hear these resolutions come out really caught me off guard.
They are so desperate to see their sister progress and do things that they do.Every day they try and get her to do different things, and when she shows just a slight progression they are her biggest cheerleaders.
I asked them what my resolutions should be and they only had the one;
Not worry about baby so much.
So this year, after a year of worrying, after a life time of no resolutions. I have decided to have one resolution.To not sweat over the things I can’t change
I can’t change my son’s autism, I can only adapt and change my own life to make his life more comfortable.
I can’t change my daughter’s disability, I just need to let her take life at her own pace and do it in her own way.
How many people fail at their resolutions by February?I am hoping I will beat the statistics and stick to my resolution until next year comes around.