Parenting has many rewards, but it can also be challenging and exhausting, and even more so when you’re parenting children with disabilities. Fatigue has been found to be associated with negative parenting experiences, so it’s important to evaluate your level of fatigue in order to cope with the challenges of child-rearing. North Coast Education Services explains how to assess your fatigue levels and implement self-care practices.
Evaluate Your Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms
If you find yourself almost constantly worrying about your child, your family, your work, or a number of other issues, try taking a break and carving out some time for self-care on a regular basis. This is part of living a healthy lifestyle. Everyday Health notes that massage therapy, yoga, and tai chi are among a few things you can try to help relieve your feelings of anxiety. Also get in as much physical activity as possible. Something as simple as walking around the block or taking a stroll at a nearby park is a great way to exercise while being outside, both of which can do wonders for your mood and outlook. This is especially beneficial when you live in an area with a good Walk Score.
And if you often feel tense, chiropractic care may help reduce body aches and headaches. Chiropractic may also help with pain incurred as you take care of your disabled child: bending forward at awkward angles at bath time, loading and unloading the wheelchair during travels, etc.
But don’t let real depression go untreated: if your feelings of guilt, hopelessness, sadness, or anger never seem to go away, make sure you attend counseling sessions with a medical professional and get the treatment you need, be it with medication, psychotherapy or a combination of both.
Evaluate Your Marital Satisfaction
For parents of children with disabilities, it’s a lot more difficult to have a “date night” or even just be able to go out for coffee. When your children have care or mobility needs, you can’t simply hire the teenager down the street to watch after them. Instead, one competent caregiver always has to stay behind.
Often, one parent will overcompensate for their partner as they see the other one less engaged with the child, and will end up shouldering all the burdens of childcare. That can lead to a lot of resentment from the parent who feels he or she is always “on duty” while the other gets to engage in activities outside the house, even if it’s just going to their office for work. Left unchecked, all that negative energy brought on by blaming your partner and acting like a martyr will turn your home into a place full of hostility and anger. Strive to clear all that bad energy from your house to get you and your family feeling more relaxed and content.
Evaluate Your Parenting Satisfaction
It can be difficult for parents of children with disabilities to assess their parenting skills as their children’s milestones will be different from the norm. For some, as the Autism Talk Club points out, the difficulty to communicate with their non-verbal or autistic children leaves them wondering if they’re doing a good job. And for others, taking care of their child day in and day out, driving them to speech therapy, occupational therapy, and from one specialist to another, feels more like a full-time job than simply being a parent. So make sure to take time to enjoy your children as they are, and follow their lead during playtime instead of always directing their activities.
Don’t spend your whole day fretting about their progress and setbacks. Instead, focus on the child in front of you. It’s also a good idea to keep up with your own interests and hobbies when you raise a child with disabilities: even if finding the time for it seems impossible, enlist a trusted caregiver to watch your child for a couple of hours while you take a much-needed break for yourself. This will help you reset, and you’ll feel more positive and energized, ready to go back to caring for your beautiful child.
Pursuing Personal Goals
Starting a business can be a great way to pursue personal goals. Not only does it give you the opportunity to be your own boss, but it also allows you to be in control of your own success. Of course, starting a business is not without its challenges. You need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve, and you need to be prepared to work hard to make your dream a reality.
Look into how to start an LLC in Ohio first. It’s only a five-step process, and you can hire a formation service to complete the paperwork for you so that you can focus on developing your business ideas. You’ll need to write out a detailed business plan, too. This should include financial projections, funding needs, marketing strategies, and how you’re going to structure your business. It will be a roadmap for the choices you make now and in the future.
Try to Embrace the Process
Raising children with disabilities is challenging, so surround yourself with a good support system and set time aside for self-care. Don’t isolate yourself or deprive yourself of things you love. Instead, live a healthy lifestyle, create a positive home environment, and consider starting a business. When you take the time to address your needs, you will find it is much easier to pause and truly enjoy your family.
If your child needs additional educational support, contact North Coast Education Services. We offer specialized programs and tutoring to meet every child’s needs.