Seeing the red light blinking that I’m almost out of gas and having a mini panic attack knowing how much farther I need to drive is how I feel when I’m depleted emotionally and physically in my care-giving responsibilities. Even an avid, well seasoned, and trained runner might say some of the same things we do, when we realize we’re running on empty: “I’m SO tired!” “I can’t do this … [Read more...]
If I Just Had the Time…
I often say I have “no time” for extra things. Having a child with special needs has my time pretty well structured and full. But 3-4 times a month my friend Lisa provides Joey with afternoon rides home from work, providing me with an hour of free time, freedom, and time to ENJOY whatever I choose! Yesterday was one of those days...my free hour to do as I please! I had just told Joe, “I'm … [Read more...]
CLEARER at a DISTANCE
Seldom, as a parent of an adult child with special needs, do I get to “see” my son at a distance. He is always up-close and right by my side as I’m helping meet his needs in many areas, including: Showering Shaving Cutting food Getting clothing on/off Maneuvering a curb Walking through a crowd Getting through a rough discipline issue …and I find that everything is simply NORMAL … [Read more...]
Life (for me) ALWAYS goes as planned….Was that Plan A or B?
When you’re young, you think you have it all figured out – that everything will go just as planned! As a planner, I love when life allows me to live according to my Plan A….but the reality is: I live in Plan B! While Plan A is fun to plan, there is adventure and even (at times) excitement when one allows God to orchestrate a different plan that our own…thus…Plan B! It’s hard for most of … [Read more...]
Reality Check!
“When you wake up, you’ll feel like a truck hit you, but each day you’ll do better and better and heal well," was what the doctor told my mother-in- law and I about how she'd feel after her heart surgery. After surgery, I asked mom how she felt and she replied, “The doctor said I’d wake up and feel like I was hit by a truck. That’s true, I do, but we failed to ask what size truck it would be!” … [Read more...]
Walk a Mile in Their Shoes
We’re embracing the month of “love” so I’d like to segue our thoughts to putting love in action as we show “compassion” - especially in the framework of those whose lives are often dismissed, ignored, disregarded, neglected, slighted, snubbed – those with special needs. Let’s ask ourselves a few questions to get started: Have I missed the opportunity to show compassion or love to someone … [Read more...]