When we are dealing with a disability as parents some times we, without realizing it allow the needs of our child to encompass us, forgetting to take time out for ourselves.
Taking time out for ourselves does not just mean getting out and away from home such as going out for dinner or a walk in the park with our partners. Taking time for ourself can also mean spending time out in our yard relaxing pulling weeds or taking a long bath while someone else cares for our child.
This can be extremely hard to do because as with any parent it is hard to let go, step back and entrust someone else to care for our children.
We've written several articles in our disability library that can offer great resources and tips for parents and loved ones caring for clients or loved ones. Having care givers burnout leaves you with life long effects even after you identify and deal with it. The best prevention is caring for yourself as well as your child.
Caregivers burnout not only effects you but it affects your child, your other children and marriage as well.
I encourage anyone taking care of someone with a medical need to review this information in our disability library.
The Cerebral Palsy Network
Showing posts with label Disability Articles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Disability Articles. Show all posts
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Beyond Cerebral Palsy
As parents and individuals whom are daily involved in the disability world life is "normal" for us. We don't see tragedy and grief. Nor do we sit back and think about can we do this. We just do it never looking back or thinking twice. It's been proven time and again that this is truly human nature. When faced with situations that one may normally never imagine being able to do. But usually you just do what ever it takes to make things happen.
Yes life can get you down no matter what the situation and many days we may actually wonder can we do this. Sometimes, we even realize that we could use an out. It's not an "out" from our children or an "out" from ourselves. It is however a moment to regroup, recharge and revitalize and to step back from the situation at hand as anyone would in any normal every day situation. To have a moment of no stares or comments or you poor thing.. Please understand that we aren't a poor thing we are truly and whole heartedly are Blessed. God has given us a wonderful opportunity to touch a life and to make a difference.
As a parent of a child whom has a medical condition called Bilateral Schizencephaly and Cerebral Palsy, I have to tell you there has been one wish for me when it has come to my daughter that has prevailed over time. And that was that was for my daughters voice. Her family understands her as do people whom have taken the time to know her. But as time goes by it gets harder and harder for her to speak and she has so much to say that people can't or won't take the time to listen to. IF they did they would be blessed to realize she is funny and smart and a pure joy and a blessing of wisdom. I did hope for her to walk I did hope for her to crawl to run jump and play. We all do, but then we have the joy of seeing a miracle of Faith when our child smiles or laughs or blesses us by just simply being. Then the walking and talking seem so small. The bible talks about faith the size of a mustard seed and for me, my life daily is just that..
Of course I couldn't imagine enduring watching my child suffer from brain cancer and my heart is ripped to sunders when I read or hear of something of that sort, I start to tell myself I don't think I could do it and then this little voice reminds me.... "Yes you could and you'd do whatever it takes to make your Childs life the best it could be." Just like when I found out my daughter had Cerebral Palsy. I didn't cry, I also didn't say why me why my child. I may have been the rarity in that case but all I wanted to know was ok what do I do for her to make her life the best it could be. I don't regret that to this day and I'm thankful for me it was how my grieving progressed because from that moment I grew and learned from my child. What a rare and wonderful miracle
The next time you see an individual with CP or a mother toting a child on her hip and pushing another in a wheelchair don't run down the next isle to get away. IF your curiosity gets you, go with it, ask . It's ok to put yourself in the position of needing to know and to understand. It is the only way to learn by being taught or experiencing it. Just because you don't know quite what to say don't say Im sorry and don't think of a disability as a death sentence because it's not. And please please give our children a chance to express their knowledge to you before presuming they don't comprehend. You will miss the blessing before you if you do..
Thinking beyond CP doesn't just start with parents or individuals it also starts with you.
It is my hope that with this section of our CP awareness area that we can offer a place for parents and individuals a place to express their views on "beyond CP". Just what they want others to know and realize about their situations as well as a place for those whom do not deal with disabilities to have a place they too can ask those questions.
Feel free to add your thoughts on what "beyond CP" means to you or things you hope to express to the world (yes in a kind way please) what you hope for them to see beyond CP.
If you have a question on how you wander something should be handled or have a question your afraid to ask someone face to face. Please feel free to ask. This Blog is open to the public and is a first in our organization to have. We've usually kept our blogs and such closed to the public. Please respect one another here. We are in the business of helping others not tearing people down. Thanks mucho More coming soon.
Yes life can get you down no matter what the situation and many days we may actually wonder can we do this. Sometimes, we even realize that we could use an out. It's not an "out" from our children or an "out" from ourselves. It is however a moment to regroup, recharge and revitalize and to step back from the situation at hand as anyone would in any normal every day situation. To have a moment of no stares or comments or you poor thing.. Please understand that we aren't a poor thing we are truly and whole heartedly are Blessed. God has given us a wonderful opportunity to touch a life and to make a difference.
As a parent of a child whom has a medical condition called Bilateral Schizencephaly and Cerebral Palsy, I have to tell you there has been one wish for me when it has come to my daughter that has prevailed over time. And that was that was for my daughters voice. Her family understands her as do people whom have taken the time to know her. But as time goes by it gets harder and harder for her to speak and she has so much to say that people can't or won't take the time to listen to. IF they did they would be blessed to realize she is funny and smart and a pure joy and a blessing of wisdom. I did hope for her to walk I did hope for her to crawl to run jump and play. We all do, but then we have the joy of seeing a miracle of Faith when our child smiles or laughs or blesses us by just simply being. Then the walking and talking seem so small. The bible talks about faith the size of a mustard seed and for me, my life daily is just that..
Of course I couldn't imagine enduring watching my child suffer from brain cancer and my heart is ripped to sunders when I read or hear of something of that sort, I start to tell myself I don't think I could do it and then this little voice reminds me.... "Yes you could and you'd do whatever it takes to make your Childs life the best it could be." Just like when I found out my daughter had Cerebral Palsy. I didn't cry, I also didn't say why me why my child. I may have been the rarity in that case but all I wanted to know was ok what do I do for her to make her life the best it could be. I don't regret that to this day and I'm thankful for me it was how my grieving progressed because from that moment I grew and learned from my child. What a rare and wonderful miracle
The next time you see an individual with CP or a mother toting a child on her hip and pushing another in a wheelchair don't run down the next isle to get away. IF your curiosity gets you, go with it, ask . It's ok to put yourself in the position of needing to know and to understand. It is the only way to learn by being taught or experiencing it. Just because you don't know quite what to say don't say Im sorry and don't think of a disability as a death sentence because it's not. And please please give our children a chance to express their knowledge to you before presuming they don't comprehend. You will miss the blessing before you if you do..
Thinking beyond CP doesn't just start with parents or individuals it also starts with you.
It is my hope that with this section of our CP awareness area that we can offer a place for parents and individuals a place to express their views on "beyond CP". Just what they want others to know and realize about their situations as well as a place for those whom do not deal with disabilities to have a place they too can ask those questions.
Feel free to add your thoughts on what "beyond CP" means to you or things you hope to express to the world (yes in a kind way please) what you hope for them to see beyond CP.
If you have a question on how you wander something should be handled or have a question your afraid to ask someone face to face. Please feel free to ask. This Blog is open to the public and is a first in our organization to have. We've usually kept our blogs and such closed to the public. Please respect one another here. We are in the business of helping others not tearing people down. Thanks mucho More coming soon.
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