Breathe
Jodi Shenal
I'm a stay-at-home mom with two amazing children. My son is on the Autism spectrum and my daughter has a rare genetic disorder and multiple disabil...
Being a parent or caregiver of a child with disabilities, you will encounter trying situations that will push you to your limit. It’s simply inevitable. Moments will arise in which you’ll feel the blood in your veins run hot while heavy stress consumes you. There will be times when you literally just want to scream out loud.
When we find ourselves here, we must rise above and remind ourselves to JUST BREATHE.
When someone utters the careless, thoughtless, cruel “R Word” in your presence…
When someone rudely stares or teases your child for being different…
When the insurance company takes you around and around on a carousel of never-ending prior authorization requests and denials, instead of helping you obtain the medical equipment your child desperately needs…
When you circle a parking lot for 20 minutes, searching for accessible parking, only to discover someone effortlessly hopping back into their vehicle, with no sign of an accessible tag or placard in sight…
As hard as it is, and before you explode, JUST BREATHE.
There will be times in which your heart aches and you can barely hold back a burning flood of tears.
When you’re sitting in an IEP meeting at your child’s school, forced to listen to the “weaknesses” and all the ways she falls short of her same aged peers…
When she is unable to communicate that she is sick or hurt…
When his anxiety takes over and you just want to “fix it” and make his life easier…
Before you lay down and surrender, JUST BREATHE.
There will more moments of pure joy and perfect love than you’ll be able to count, too.
You will experience magic and beauty in your life that most people can’t begin to imagine. Moments that will melt away all the worry and completely take your breath away.
When your child lovingly smiles at you and her eyes light up with wonder…
When you hear her most precious giggle…
When he wraps you in a tight hug, just when you need it most…
When you witness her reach a tremendous milestone that equals climbing a mountain…
Remember to pause, JUST BREATHE, and take it all in.
