Sometimes, I wish parenting was like any other profession. If it got too difficult, you could take time off, complain to management or even resign. At the very least wrangle yourself a pay rise.
As parents we always strive to do the best for our children. We work hard to try and provide for them, guide them when they need guidance, comfort them when they need comforting and give them the benefit of our wisdom and knowledge at just the right time. We also know that for the main it will all be ignored and they will still make their own mistakes. Nevertheless normal expectations prevail, that is they will talk and walk at a certain age, play, make friends, eventually form relationships and so on. However, when you have a child diagnosed with a ‘disability’ in my case autism, things are different. Of course all the desires and hopes are the same as with any other child but the reality is often very different.
When your child is diagnosed with a disability, the initial reaction of many parents is denial often followed by confusion, anger, a grieving process and a myriad of other emotions. The journey at the beginning may seem overwhelming and disheartening and for the main quite an accurate assumption. The quagmire of bureaucratic hoops and somersaults one must perform in order to get the help needed is confusing and incomprehensible to most of us. Mind you the system that you are constantly up against is the same one set up to help you. Often overlooked is the financial cost associated with having a child with a disability. Many times one parent may need to cut their work hours or stop work altogether. That is if you are fortunate to have both parents together, as another aspect often overlooked is the toll it takes on relationships and family break downs.
Different challenges arise throughout the different stages of your child
