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Does a Disabled Child Equal a Disabled Family?
6 Tips for Preventing Family Stress By Melinda Copp
The effects of a misunderstanding like this can obviously be devastating. So be realistic and keep in mind that just because a word means one thing in everyday conversation, it can mean something completely different in medical terms.
"Many times fathers are considered peripheral parents," Hower says. "It's not that they care any less about their children, but a lot of times Dad goes off to work and Mom takes care of everything."
In a family with a disabled child, fathers need to be included in doctor's appointments and meetings with teachers and caregivers. This not only supports Mom, but it also helps make sure that everyone is clear about what's going on with your child.
"It's easy to get wrapped up in thinking, 'I have a handicapped child; that's who I am,'" Hower says. "Really that's only part of who you are, and pursuing other interests will help maintain yourself as an individual."
Although it's easy to think that if you give everything you have to your disabled child you're being a good parent, you can't be the best parent possible when you don't take care of yourself and your other family members. Having a disabled child is a life-altering event, but for your family's sake, you can't allow it to disable everything else in your life, too.
