My seven-year-old son with level 3 autism doesn't know many words, but his favorite word is "school" and we hear it at least once an hour all day long, even when he's out for summer break. It isn't his favorite time of year, which makes it hard on the entire family. As we move through the summer, I've been whispering lots of prayers for our family and for your family too. Praying you find strength … [Read more...]
Special-Needs Parents: Here’s Where to Find Your Mission Field
When my husband and I were in seminary, we had a little joke about being able to tell the missionaries from the rest of us. Missionaries were the ones who wore flip flops in January. They spent more time outside in the grass than in the library. If you went to their houses, you would probably have to sit on the floor. They didn’t want to acquire too much stuff before they went on the … [Read more...]
Special Needs Parents: How Do We Get over Our Fear of the Future?
Ask 100 special-needs parents what their #1 stress is and it's likely 99 of them will answer the unknown future for their kids. How do we learn to laugh at the time to come, like the Proverbs 31 woman? What happens when those with special needs age out of the education system? That's the question Dateline set out to answer on their show this week. They spent three years following two … [Read more...]
Hope for the Continual Cycle of Grief Special-Needs Parents Experience
I've been seeing a therapist for a few months. A therapist who specializes in grief. Last week she said I've graduated, but I'm not so sure I'm done grieving. I may never be done. But I have found hope. Special-needs parents experience unique grief. Instead of moving through the regular stages and finding resolution, we can be struck with grief at any moment. We go through the cycles again and … [Read more...]
Advice on How to Encourage Special-Needs Siblings (from a Special-Needs Sibling)
"She ruins everything!" I said to my mom when I was six and my big sister bumped into an art project I'd been working on all day. And again when I was twelve and she wanted to hang out with me and my friends at my slumber party. And again when I was seventeen and she snuck upstairs when I was watching a movie with a boyfriend. And again when I was twenty-two, as I walked behind her down a … [Read more...]
God’s Purpose in My Child’s Disability
My sister Syble has Down syndrome, so when our family goes out to eat or out anywhere, people notice us. Sometimes they stare. Sometimes they smile. Sometimes they just look away. Young children may ask questions or point. It becomes so expected we don’t even notice it anymore. But our son James has autism, which can’t really be seen. Usually, it’s heard. If we go to the grocery store and he … [Read more...]