By Louise Kinross
If you haven’t visited the BLOOM blog we launched in May – please drop by at http://bloom-parentingkidswithdisabilities.blogspot.com/
The blog allows BLOOM to reach you in a timely way and has been a tremendous source of new stories, guest blogs and interviews with parents from across Canada and the U.S.
I was recently interviewed about parenting a child with a disability by a Psychology Today magazine blog called Disabled and Thriving. It’s written by Melissa Blake, a journalist who also has a rare genetic disorder.
One of the questions she asked was: “What is your #1 piece of advice for parents of children with disabilities?”
Here’s my answer:
Early on, I used to feel I couldn’t live if my son Ben didn’t walk, talk, grow or do any of the other things most people take for granted. That created an incredible amount of anxiety and over-focus on trying to prod his development. Nothing was ever good enough and we had no perspective.
My #1 piece of advice would be to know that love for your child will enable you to cope with whatever comes your way. Let go of trying to “fix” your child and open your eyes to the richness of what is already there. Recognize that life is short and tenuous. Focus on the things that bring you and your child joy. Live in the moment. Treasure your time together.
When Ben was born, I didn’t have the confidence to know that love would enable me to accept him – whatever he could or couldn’t do, no matter what. That realization has been both surprising and liberating.
Best wishes for the holidays!
