Taking Care of Yourself and Your Family
On this Page
What goes through a parent’s mind when a child is diagnosed?
- How will this affect my family?
- My spouse?
- Other children?
- Extended family?
- What about me?
This section on taking care of yourself and your family provides some answers to these questions.
Caring for Yourself
Parents of children with special needs often forget to take care of themselves. On
the Caring for Yourself page, we will discuss the importance of taking good care of you so
you can continue to be the best caregiver possible.
Caring for Your Marriage or Relationship
Managing the every-day issues associated with parenting children with special
needs can cause couples to forget to prioritize their relationship with each other. Couples can manage these stressors together
and
stay close by focusing on ways to stay connected. The Caring for Your Marriage or Relationship page is about how to
work with each other and keep your relationship strong.
Caring for Your Other Children
Brothers and sisters are the best! They have feelings and concerns about their
sibling, and need to understand these feelings. The Caring for Your Other Children page will
help parents understand more about how their other children might feel and how they can help all their children thrive.
Caring for Your Family and Friends
Family and friends are also affected by the diagnosis of your child. How can you
help your family and friends to understand the diagnosis, understand your child,
and also understand their own feelings about this new
information? The Caring for Your Family & Friends page discusses common issues families of children
with special needs face with their family and friends.
Tips for Single Parents of Children with Special Needs
Parenting a child with special needs is challenging enough, but doing it as a single
parent has its own set of challenges. On the Tips for Single Parents of Children with Special Needs page, we offer
suggestions to make things easier for when you're doing it on your own.
Fathers of Children with Special Needs
Dads are an important part of the family, and often the apple of their
child's eye. Yet, sometimes they may feel like the only guy who faces the challenges of caring for a child with special needs,
but there are
actually many, many dads who take on and enjoy the this role. The Fathers of Children with Special Needs page is about these dads.
Respite
Everyone needs a little time away… The Respite Care page has information about respite for
families of children with special needs.