Being the parent of a special needs child is a complicated job. Not only do you have to deal with the numerous 'professionals' interested in your child, you have to meet a whole bunch of needs you never imagined, and for a lot longer than you could ever have believed. Tabitha is now a couple of months away from being 6, and it's bringing home to me just how delayed and severe her needs really are. She is still doubly incontinent. She is non-verbal. Her communication skills are restricted to a few signs, that she will only use when she is prompted to, not spontaneously. She has little or no understanding of other people's needs. In effect, we are living with a petulant toddler, who is 6 years old, and is showing no sign of developing rapidly to try and catch up with her peers.
It is hard not to look ahead and panic about what the future may hold for us. It is looking very unlikely that Tabitha will ever be independant and as much as being a parent is always a full time post, it's hard to know that in our case, it will be full time, for the rest of our lives with no break. We all love our children, but to know they will never leave you because they can't, and that no matter how things go for you in the future, there will always be a fully dependant child to worry about is one hell of a responsibility.
Oh Lisa, having just been through Ben's 7th birthday I so understand where you are coming from I really do. I hate admiring it but I really thought we would be further along with his development by now. At times it is really, really hard to cope never mind understand but take it from me as your friend I am here for you through thick, thin, happy, sad, frustrating. In the name of friendship and from a parent in the same boat we can lean on one another xxxx many many hugs xxxx
ReplyDeleteKaren