Any other parents of kids with special needs?

Yes I can only imagine. I’ve taught girls who have it as well and you’d never know at school, or it presents more as just high anxiety. My 6 year old also keeps it together all day at school than has insane melt downs when he gets home. I actually find that if I don’t let him have an hour on his iPad or Nintendo his behaviour is way worse. He needs that hour just to relax and turn his brain off! Thanks for sharing :heart:

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I am so scared for my boys to grow up. We have two spare rooms downstairs in our basement that we are thinking about turning into a suite. If they don’t live on their own at least they would have some independence. And you’re so right, it’s so much easier to be a support when sober. I wish I would have seen the light a lot earlier as well!

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Awe that’s amazing!! I also love working with people with diversabilities! They are so much more interesting. Thank you for the work you do :heart:

Yes. My whole family told me I was over reacting and he’s just behaving like a “toddler” with terrible two meltdowns. But I went with my momma gut and I’m sure glad I did.

I have consumed a lot of alcohol over the past few years trying to cope, and in the moment I would feel great, but I: gained weight, got depressed, felt more insecure, parented them hungover a lot, and hurt people I love. I need to be the best me for me, so I can be the best mom for them.
Sober parenting is so much easier regardless! I’m glad to hear that you are doing so well. Your daughter is going into grade 2? What are they doing on her IEP to help her with reading? Hopefully they have her in small group or one on one reading intervention at LEAST 3 times per week :slight_smile: My guy goes to a private fine arts school. I was so concerned about him socially that I figured it would be a good fit. They do so much adapted learning there, and he has now performed in 3 major plays and loves it!

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Wow that’s amazing! Dyslexia can be tricky. Actually the learning assistance teacher at the school I taught at last year has dyslexia. She has to make accommodations for herself- she can’t multitask if she’s typing and uses the spell check feature a lot on her writing but she is very self aware and an amazing educator. I don’t believe we should ever put limitations on people just because they have a diagnosis. I honestly believe that I have some form of Aspergers. I am super socially anxious and awkward and there may be some ADHD in there (I’m super impulsive, inattentive, etc)

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Amazing!! My two older guys (8 & 5) are super high functioning- cruising through school now with out any support really. My 2 year old was diagnosed last month, scoring above average in all cognitive areas other than expressive language. It’s been a roller coaster with him, t he’s in daycare now and it’s been such a blessing. I was actually going to revive this thread as well so thank you. Here is a photo of Jack from day after my oldest overhand hit a ping pong ball into his face… :woman_facepalming:

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I have a disability and I am 68 days sober tomorrow.

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Congratulations!!! So proud of you :heart:

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Jack is such a cutie! Poor baby, big brothers can be rough sometimes but I’m sure there’s a lot of love too.

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Just had a read through this again- I love making a difference in the lives of these special people

@Becsta and @Insperation are you still around guys and well?

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Fantastic tattoo!!! My 13 year old has an asperger’s diagnosis. Sometimes it’s difficult to tell, other times it’s difficult to avoid. It’s been getting a bit easier as he grows…but his teen years are upon us so I have no idea what’s ahead…

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If I recall, you work with special needs @DarrenUK? It takes a pretty special and patient person to care for them. :heart:

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I do indeed. Thankyou :two_hearts:

I work with the ones with extreme levels of behaviour so hard work

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You’re amazing! As a parent of one, it’s really tough but we don’t have a choice and you do. I commend you. Don’t get me wrong, I’m thankful for each and every day and i feel i was given this special person for a reason. Keep up the good work you’re doing. You make a difference in each and every one of them even when they can’t express it themselves. :two_hearts:

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My son, ten, has adhd, so requires a lot of help to concentrate on homework, which obviously I can’t do when drunk!

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My 6 year old also has ADHD. It can get intense real quick haha. Also, parenting any kids with a hangover is the worst- then throw in some exceptionalities and it can be so much harder!

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We a have a 27 yr old daughter with aspergers qho wasn’t diagnosed until she was going off to collage.
We just couldn’t put our finger on it.
I love how you put it @funnydad. Some days your in it and others just breeze by.
When we got the Internet I just kept searching her traits and finally everything made sense.
Did she want the diagnosis? No
Did we? no
Did she follow through with her meds and therapy? For a few years
She did however educate herself about it and had taken herself off all her meds.
We educated ourselves but struggled for years.
We now have mostly great days and a few that are tough. But we talk this through. We found texting works best after a misunderstanding. We just have to be very direct.

She is now pregnant with our second grand baby. Has her own place and a nice guy.
She found a great routine of yoga and meditation that helps a lot with with her anxiety.
We do not push her to do things at the last minute and try to stick to a good routine with her.

she is a wonderful mom. Does every thing a great mom should.
She has figured out on her own after many failed attempts that she is not capable of working 40 hours a week. But can do 2 and has held this job for a long while now.
She has her quirks as we all do.

Now that I’m sober, I was able to sincerely apologize for everything I did when she was younger. I Didn’t mean to hurt her but i was trying to force things on her she simply wasn’t capable of doing or things that she needed to learn on her own.
she has accepted my apology this time because she truly believed it. It shows in my actions.

I changed and she did too.
I had to be patient. But I couldn’t when I was drinking. I wanted to fix her when in reality I was the broken one.

I work with adults with cognitive and physical differences and have learned more from them about taking it easy. Enjoying life and being kind than I ever imagined

None of this would have been possible if I was still drinking.

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@Zoesgram1 Loved reading this. Thank you for sharing that.

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Your welcome. It felt good to write it.

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Thanks for sharing @Zoesgram1. I have a 27 yr old daughter too. She’s never been so called “labeled”. Been to many doctors over the years and they just diagnosed her as “developmentally delayed”. She does have significant traits of autism. Some traits of down syndrome. Was always in special ed classes and graduated high school at 21.

I still have to help her with all her personal needs including showers. I know she’ll always need help to get through the day. She’s very smart but not college level. Great on computers and video games. We finally got her into a state program that will take her to work each day. It will be factory type work where they take computers apart.

We also have a lot of issues with her emotions. She doesn’t take well to being called an adult either. Doesn’t wanna grow up (but who does?). Some days I feel like I have a 10 yr old and others a teen.

I’ve come to the conclusion that she’ll never leave home and live on her own. Maybe a group home when I get too old. I struggled trying to accept all this which I used as an excuse in my addiction. I’m now finally working through the mental part like a normal person and seeking psychological treatment to cope rather than drugs and alcohol.

In the end, she is my world and I couldn’t live life without her.

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