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1 Mom's Ode to Mothers of Children Who Have Special Needs Is So Sweet

10/05/2019 - 07:50 PM

Alethea Mshar, a writer and mom of two boys who have special needs, [1] knows that becoming a mother is incredible, regardless of your parenting journey. In a recent Facebook post, she shared why Mother's Day is so special for mamas who have children with special needs [2], and her words are downright beautiful.

Before bringing home your first child you have an idea of what motherhood looks like, but the realities of daily life as a mom are like a foreign land which you have heard and read about, and maybe visited, but once you move in, the reality of daily life is different than you had ever imagined, you rise to the occasion, both the expected and the unimaginable. You learn the language and customs, and before you know it, you cannot imagine your life any other way.

Before bringing home a child with special needs, [3] you have an idea of what special needs motherhood looks like [4], but the realities of daily life as a mom are like a foreign land which you have heard and read about, and maybe visited, but once you move in, the reality of daily life is different than you had ever imagined. You rise to the occasion, both the expected and the unimaginable. You learn the language and customs, and before you know it, you cannot imagine your life any other way.

Although parenting any child is hard, Alethea admits that playing mom to a kid who has special needs can take a little more energy.

When your child has special needs, whether developmental or medical or both, whether mild, moderate or severe, rising to the occasion demands more, longer than it does other moms [5]. When your child has special needs, rising to the occasion means your heart is both broken and strengthened day by day. When your child has special needs rising to the occasion means your commitment redoubles at every turn and holds fast through every bump in the road.

While raising a child with special needs comes with its fair share of ups and downs, she highlights how it can make anyone a stronger parent.

When your child has special needs, rising to the occasion means higher highs and lower lows than you could have fathomed. When your child has special needs, rising to the occasion means you lay yourself down, day after day to make the magic happen on their behalf. "When your child has special needs, rising to the occasion means showing up with all they need to become the best version of themselves possible.

When your child has special needs, rising to the occasion means walking alongside other moms who are rising to their own occasion. And those women are the best ride or die friends you could ever ask for. With all of the unexpected that comes with rising to the occasion of special needs motherhood, the women on this path with me have been among the most delightful surprises of my life.

Now, she's wishing all the other women out there a Happy Mother's Day. "To each of you who is rising to the occasion for your child, I wish a lovely Mother's Day. I wish you rest and strength and joy. I wish you reserves of strength and love to keep rising to the occasion."


Source URL
https://www.popsugar.co.uk/parenting/Mom-Ode-Mothers-Raising-Kids-Special-Needs-46142563