Does life with a child who has special needs ever really hit a stride?

Does what we do one week hold true to being the right thing the next?

Or do we continue to adapt and change?

Adjust and readjust?

UMMM?

A big NO to the first 2 things

And a resounding YES to the last 2

And so goes it with us, we are readjusting and trying something new. My theory is that life all around our beautiful children changes. Causing us to adjust in many matters that have nothing to do with our children. But as we navigate life, which creates change for them. We now need to help them adjust to changes that regular old life has.

Make sense? I hope so.

So now we help them adjust to, say a sibling leaving for college or a parent’s new job. Which takes work and have many emotions with it. For us and then for them.

Now add these things to the work they (and we) are doing to keep them ok and funcational in their lives and it can be ALOT OF WORK!

And A LOT OF EMOTIONS and this can lead to times when a certain 2 people should not be trying to talk. at a certain time.

I will use Elizabeth and me (ha-ha, like you might have already known this)

Emotions can run high for Elizabeth as this is part of her tender heart (thank you Dyspraxia) and she will show anxiety (thank you SPD-Sensory Processing Disorder)

Then add in the emotions I feel (I am representing all parents/caregivers here!)

And we can have some intense moments…. PERIOD

So, we had one of those yesterday…a bit of a tangle.

That resulted in both she and I walking away, coming back a few minutes later and talking/resolving the issue.

It hit me then, that she and I need to be able to call a “take 5”, take a break and return to talk. Like we did today but officially. Not a groundbreaking idea, but for me, it was as it was now related to Elizabeth.

The idea really resonated with her, and I told her we HAVE to talk it through after the break to make it a good plan.

So now, welcome to our new adjustment.

It is official…We will be taking 5 I will keep you posted……

I wish everyone a peaceful week.

Michele Gianetti author of Elizabeth Believes in Herself