PDA

View Full Version : You Know you Have a Child With Special Needs When.....



lovemy6sweeties
07-27-2006, 06:43 AM
This was posted on my T21 board - I thought it was cute, and I could so relate - I figured many of you could too.....


You know you have a child with special needs when..........

You compare ER's instead of grocery stores.
You compare your child's oxygen saturations.
You view toys as "therapy.'
You don't take a new day for granted.
You teach your child HOW to pull things out of the cupboard, off the bookcases, and that feeding the dog from the table is fun.
The clothes your infant wore last fall still fit her this fall.
Everything is an educational opportunity instead of just having plain old fun.
You cheer instead of scold when they blow bubbles in their juice while sitting at the dinner table (that's speech therapy), smear ketchup all over their high chair (that's OT), or throw their toys (that's PT).
You also don't mind if your child goes thru the house tooting a tin whistle.
You fired at least 3 pediatricians and can teach your family doctor a thing or two.
You can name at least 3 genes on chromosome 21. (You really know your toast if you can spell the full names correctly)
You have been told you are "in denial" by at least 3 medical or therapy professionals. This makes you laugh!
You have that incredible sinking feeling that you've forgotten SOMETHING on those few days that you don't have some sort of appointment somewhere!
You get irritated when friends with healthy kids complain about ONE sleepless night when their child is ill!
Your vocabulary consists of all the letters OT, PT, SP, ASD, VSD, IFSP,etc.
You keep your appointment at the specialist even though a tropical storm is raging because you just want to get this one over with.....you waited 8months to get it.....and besides, no one else will be there!
Fighting and wrestling with siblings is PT.
Speech therapy occurs in the tub with a sibling.
When potty training is complete, you take out a full-page public notice in the Washington Post.
When the Doctors/Specialist/Hospitals etc. all know you by your name without referring to your chart.
You keep a daily growth chart.
You calculate monthly statistics for the number of times your child vomits, and did this for more then one year.
You phone all your friends when your child sits up for the first time, at age two.
With a big smile on your face you tell a stranger that your four year old just started walking last week.
Her medical file is two inches and growing.
You have a new belief.....that angels live with us on earth.

fia's mom
07-27-2006, 07:17 AM
Christie, that was an awesome post. Thanks so much for sharing.

aligreat
07-27-2006, 09:04 AM
Some of those are just too true. It's nice to know we aren't alone. Others can relate. :)

Bill
07-27-2006, 01:39 PM
i think you special mom. must have ton of
patience and love.

gracy

Emilys_Mommy
07-27-2006, 03:27 PM
Thank you for reminding me that I am not alone :rolleyes: Today has been such a rough day - but after reading that and enjoying a very "cleansing" cry, I feel so much better! :D So many of those statements hold true for my family. It's good to find some hope and empathy every once in a while!

tyandsophiesmom
07-27-2006, 03:59 PM
That is very true. I laughed out loud for quite a few. Blowing bubbles, smearing ketchup, and especially firing doctors. They hit really close to home! Thanks for lifting my day Christie!

alices_dad
07-27-2006, 07:36 PM
That was pretty close to home.

I would also add:
When shopping for toys, you ignore the age, but look for how it will enhance PT/OT/ST.
You'd be thrilled if your child had to be shushed (more often).
You develop that knowing look when you see a family with a child with T21.
One of your first questions you use to break the ice with another family is, "how's her/his heart?" and there's no pause or look of confusion.