NOW THAT YOUR CHILD IS HERE. PART 1

Having a baby introduces you to a level of love that you would never have imagined however, having one who would depend on you for a lot of things doesn't feel like love or well it does but in a completely different way.

Having one with special needs means there is sometimes pain, hurt, guilt and moods that are deflated. It is hard for you as a parent as much as it is hard for the child who doesn't want to be cared for at a certain age but have no choice.

The moment you realize that your child is different, you become different yourself. You see yourself pretending for weeks, months and even years that every thing is 'normal'. It can be a lonely place to be as a parent. You can't get your head around it sometimes because you know that something is wrong.

Friends and family will always try to tell you that everything will be alright and that every child is different and so is their developmental abilities. These words are not so comforting so you cry, you ask why me and you go on to mourn your baby not because you've lost your child. 

And then you begin to pray and have faith and hope that your child will be okay. When the diagnosis, test results and reports starts pouring in, you find yourself crying some more not because you have lost faith but because you cannot just figure out why it has to be you.  

With all the emotions going on, you live everyday trying to figure out who works and what doesn't. You find a new way of working with your child, a new special way of caring and in the process, your heart will begin to find it's way into your child's heart. 

You begin to see past the needs and challenges because each time your child smiles at you, looking into your eyes something in you responds and you can feel the joy. Only you can connect with this special kind of joy. 

At this point, the road to healing and bonding has just began. You can now connect because you've just realized that your child is here now regardless ....... 

In this knowing, successes and triumphs will be recorded. You can now breathe because the tough side of the emotion is out of the way. It is now time to prepare yourself and your child to face the world.  

To be continued........