![]() In one of my classes the professor assigned My Baby Rides the Short Bus: The unabashedly human experience of raising kids with disabilities, this is a collection of personal accounts from parents who are raising children with disabilities. In the chapter “Jackpot” by Amy Saxon Bosworth, she opens with “Every parent with a “special (gag) child” know what I’m talking about when someone tells them again what a present they’ve received, what a strong person they must be to be to have been given such a magnificent gift,” (p. 144). When I read this for the first time I was like yes! I understand where she is coming from, I am not a parent of child with disabilities but a sibling. I do not know how often I heard about how wonderful it was to have him (my big brother Rob). I remember thinking when people came up and said this to us when I was little they were nuts. They did not spend hours upon hours looking for him in the woods, because he decided it would be fun to hide from everyone. They did not have to listen as he sat on our back porch singing at the top of his lungs with the dog a Kenny Rodgers song. These are annoying to a younger sibling, but not horrible. I know my parents would have completely different things that they say that make him less then wonderful. Like the time they were in the Barnes and Noble and he picked up the biggest most expensive book and wanted them to buy it for him. He was in his mid-twenties when this happened. My parents tried to tell him they could not afford the book and he needed to put it back. He was having none of this, he attempted to spank our Mom in the store. This brought the attention of the employees and eventually the mall security. I do not tell you these things to make everyone believe that he is horrible and impossible to get along with but let everyone see that he (like everyone) has good points and bad points. He can be wonderful, but he can also be a terror. To tell a parent, a sibling, or any family member how wonderful it must be to have such a special individual takes way part of who they are. Instead of saying how wonderful it is to have them, acknowledge that it is difficult to raise a child like it is for every parent. Share with them stories about raising children that are difficult and listen to their stories that are difficult. Raising a child with disabilities is a journey and one that goes a little smoother with support. |
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Diana Atkinson, Administator:According to research done by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) dealing with this level of stress can “make it harder for staff to serve as models and meet the needs of children and families” (Whitaker, 2013, p. 1). Archives |