As women we understand that there are many sacrifices to be made by becoming mothers. Sometimes our careers take a back seat, or our education is placed on hold, or our social circles change and friendships grow apart. It is expected and understandable that life is going to change by adding a child to the mix.
However, when a child with special need comes along, not only do your own dreams and aspirations take the back burner, somtimes they are abandonded all together. No longer can you return to work after maternity leave and drop your child in a reliable daycare facility. Your employeer is less than likely to undersand the 3 times a week you will need to leave early in order to get your kid to speech, or ABA, or any other therapy. Forget going to college right now, as every spare minute you have to read or study is no longer available for Latin, American History, or Political Science. All of that time is now dedicated to researching new things regarding your child's disability and in my case, how to just communitcate with her better.
Even your social circle changes as you have to cut lunch dates with the girls short or you find that friends with typically developing kids move away from your circle and onto the moms with kids in dance, soccer, or simular activities that your child may never be able to be involved in.
You begin to feel isolated. There are the few that stick by your side, sympathetic to your situation even if never fully feeling your struggle. Those people are the ones to value. They are the ones to hold onto and lean on. You have to realize that they love not only you but your child too. Even still, there are the days where you feel you have given up everything you hoped for and dreamed of for this child. You feel duped in the promise of motherhood and all that it had to offer. You asked for the job just not necessarily with this particular benefit package.
However, when a child with special need comes along, not only do your own dreams and aspirations take the back burner, somtimes they are abandonded all together. No longer can you return to work after maternity leave and drop your child in a reliable daycare facility. Your employeer is less than likely to undersand the 3 times a week you will need to leave early in order to get your kid to speech, or ABA, or any other therapy. Forget going to college right now, as every spare minute you have to read or study is no longer available for Latin, American History, or Political Science. All of that time is now dedicated to researching new things regarding your child's disability and in my case, how to just communitcate with her better.
Even your social circle changes as you have to cut lunch dates with the girls short or you find that friends with typically developing kids move away from your circle and onto the moms with kids in dance, soccer, or simular activities that your child may never be able to be involved in.
You begin to feel isolated. There are the few that stick by your side, sympathetic to your situation even if never fully feeling your struggle. Those people are the ones to value. They are the ones to hold onto and lean on. You have to realize that they love not only you but your child too. Even still, there are the days where you feel you have given up everything you hoped for and dreamed of for this child. You feel duped in the promise of motherhood and all that it had to offer. You asked for the job just not necessarily with this particular benefit package.
This is very well written... parts of it are how I feel sometimes!
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