Keeping your head above the water when YOU are the one with special needs!

5 Aspects of Life to balance

Years ago I was supermom. Okay so maybe just marginally awesome mom. I was the head of my growing church’s nursery. Went to co-op with my 5 kids who were all dealing with special needs. We were in the van most days of the week zipping here and there doing all sorts of thing… busy things… things that I filled my time with.

We lived an intense life but I never really considered what if… what if I became the one with special needs? I had medical issues but they were stable at the time and part of me just thought I’ll be like this, sick but able bodied.

That is not what happened.

1. Create a Plan and set of Goals to reach for-

   1. How often do you hear oh we homeschool so you can just take a day off…
      1. 1 day, 2, a week when does it become too much?
   2. Goals help you establish a baseline
      1. Am I pushing too hard?
      2. Are we on track? Even if it doesn’t feel like we are

2. Structure and Routine

   1. My natural inclination is relaxed homeschooling but my situation requires
   2. We developed a routine for the family because we are a truly a special needs family
      1. If the kids are upset and out of sorts my efforts will be 10x just to get a calm less intense result

3. Year round Homeschooling

   1. This is not the only way to do it just how we do.
      1. Flexible time
      2. Consistent learning that doesn’t require review in the fall
      3. Anxiety that a normal child can have with mom or dad in and out of the hospital is eased by a constant

4. Homemaking takes time and spoons!

   1. Menu planning saves $, time, and energy
      1. Brain fog at the end of the day
      2. I need a rest.

5. Healthy Living

   1. Go to the dr, dentist, therapist, chiropractor
      1. Shows your children to care for and tend to their own bodies
   2. Sleep!
   3. Take your medications if necessary
   4. Rest is good.. I know opposite of how we started but being able to acknowledge that we all need a rest is good. Take an In-service day.

It’s not always easy to get from struggling or just plain not making our goals and feeling depressed about our own performance as mom, wife, and homeschooler to functioning, progressing, calmer person. Like in a real pond there are those stones on the edge that are slime covered and you may fall. Get back up and keep trying.

I wake up each and every day because the Lord has blessed me with the strength to carry on. I acknowledge and welcome that comforting fact.  

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