| Helping one's child to live their best life possible is every | | | | 2. Another important aspect of taking care of yourself |
| parent's dream. Learn what to do to make your dream | | | | is that when things do not go well you are more able |
| become a reality. | | | | to handle negative situations and disappointments in a |
| There are hundreds of programs to choose from to | | | | much more positive manner. |
| help your children with autism and special needs. | | | | 3. You will become more resilient. It will take more to |
| However, there are very few programs exclusively | | | | get you down and you will be able to bounce back |
| for parents who have children with special needs | | | | much quicker. |
| where they only focus on the parents. | | | | 4. You will find yourself learning, changing and growing |
| While seeking the best treatments for your children | | | | in all areas of your life. |
| make sure to take care of yourself along the way. | | | | 5. Acceptance seems to come along as part of the |
| Many years went by before I realized how extremely | | | | package, while your fears are minimized and your |
| important it was to take care of myself first. I often | | | | courage is strengthened. |
| questioned how would I ever find the time? | | | | Therefore the next time you hear someone say, to |
| It is true when moms are doing well so is the rest of | | | | take care of yourself first, I hope you will take it |
| the family. | | | | seriously and take the first step to make that happen. |
| I had been intensely focusing on helping Brandon that I | | | | Begin with baby steps and start by carving out just a |
| had completely lost myself. I spent every waking | | | | few minutes for yourself and build as time goes by. I |
| moment taking care of Brandon and my family. When I | | | | began by walking at a park for a few minutes a |
| began to take care of myself first my entire life and | | | | couple days a week, which grew into hours over time. |
| my family's life changed for the better. Over time my | | | | If you want to see change, change yourself. |
| mental outlook greatly improved. I found assistance, | | | | As I changed, I watched my son change as well. I |
| help, and support. I attended lectures, conferences, | | | | treated him the way I wanted to be treated. I became |
| workshops, read books, found a therapist who | | | | a nicer person and so did he. He knew he could trust |
| understood my situation of raising a child with special | | | | me to be fair and could rely on me to be there for him. |
| needs. She was a tremendous support. I discovered | | | | He knew I would treat him kindly and with respect. |
| holistic natural treatments, such as homeopathy, and | | | | When I lost my cool I would quickly apologize. All of this |
| yoga. When I discovered how to live in the moment | | | | helped to keep Brandon's dignity intact. Dignity is |
| and how to move into fear and watch it dissipate from | | | | something many people with disabilities lose early on |
| Eckhart Tolle's book, The Power of Now, I become a | | | | and never get back. It is an essential ingredient for |
| kinder, more evolved human being in the process. | | | | one's self esteem. |
| As far as my son's diagnosis, it was not until Brandon | | | | Dignity, respect and acceptance is the key to helping |
| turned thirty-two when I discovered he also had | | | | our kids and adults develop and grow to their highest |
| Asperger's, in addition to having untreatable epilepsy, | | | | level. |
| and severe learning disorders. You might say for all | | | | If you want your children to succeed, you must set the |
| those years I was trying to find my way in the dark. | | | | tone and show them how by doing your best and in |
| Because of the love for our children we will never give | | | | turn they will do their best too. I have seen it happen, |
| up and we do whatever it takes to help them. That is | | | | and I know firsthand that it is never too early or too |
| something all parents have in common. | | | | late to get started. Remember, you and your children |
| 1. When you feel more balanced, centered and filled | | | | are on the same team. Together you can turn a |
| with hope you have a much better chance of helping | | | | negative situation around. |
| your children to reach their full potential, and at the | | | | THERE IS HOPE! |
| same time you are helping yourself. | | | | |