Taking care of a kiddo with special needs can be incredibly demanding and all-consuming. Between the doctors appointments, the therapy days, the all night research sessions, the insurance phone calls, the illnesses...I could go on and on. Its a full time job and a half. Taking the time to take care of yourself can feel selfish and impossible. After nearly 5 years of dedicating my everything to Jameson and his health, I've come to realize the importance of taking time to recharge your batteries. Not only does it make you a more sane person, but it makes you a better mom. (dad, grandparent, etc) I know this advice isn't always easy to take. The first few years of Jameson's life were like survival mode. It felt like living in a bubble where no one understood what you were experiencing, so the easiest thing was to cut yourself off from the world. Over time, things got a little easier. The constant fear of losing him will never go away, but trusting that God has a plan for it all has given me immense peace of mind. And taking the time to go out and do things, or even go on a week long trip to France has been something I couldn't have imagined a couple years ago. But it is possible! So that is my message to all the new special needs parents and caregivers out there that feel like they're drowning....it will get better. It will feel less overwhelming. It will become your new normal and you will eventually find a way to feel like a human being again. And in the meantime, we're here for you.
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