When People Just Get It

As a mother of a child with special needs, I have spent so much of Elizabeth’s life thinking about places we are going and how to make them work for her. People we are going to meet and do they already know how to talk to her ( just like everyone else) or do they understand her trepidations.

Her SPD has made her afraid of so many things so very early on in life,  I am sure so many people just thought she was a very unfriendly, cranky child.  They would try to talk to her or reach out to her to try something and then Elizabeth would respond in a way lead by her fear…she would pull away and cry.

Her dyspraxia would make doing something even if she wanted to too difficult, so the word “NO” would be heard or if not heard.  The head shaking back and forth and the pulling away generally got the point across.

And trust me, it is not like I could not understand how it would all seem/look to a person who would encounter Elizabeth for the first times.

So back to what I was saying…..I spent a lot of time planning and thinking and evaluating…  I still spend time and think I always will on these lovely thoughts, just maybe  less as time goes on due to therapies and maturity on Elizabeth’s part ( and probably mine too!)  but for a person who has devoted such brain space to this, it is always so wonderful when you realize in certain places it will be okay. When you have been there enough to know you can relax and enjoy.  Or you have a group of people with whom all is okay. So again, you get the chance to relax.

But one of the best things is to find a NEW person or group of people who just get your child, who listen when you tell them how she “works” , who listened when you told them how to talk to her ..who just “GET IT”  that is a wonderful gift and one that is treasured beyond measure.  My newest find is our newly made friends at our orthodontist’s office.  They are wonderful, kind people who see Elizabeth and tell me they are so happy to see her as she “just brightens up the office, she is like sunshine”

To those who are raising a child with special needs, you know how great it feels to hear this.  I hope everyone meets someone this week who just “GETS” your child.

To those at the meet and greets for DYSPRAXIA USA  on December 15th..I wish you all the best of success.  Please enjoy the feeling of being in a room with others who will just “GET IT”, who will know you and your feelings because they are in the fight also.  I hope the events a great success.

Wishing everyone a peaceful week.

3 thoughts on “When People Just Get It

  1. Pingback: rantsnrascals.com — Some people just don’t get it: raising a child with SPD

    • Hi, thanks again for the support of my blog. My hope is to have my book reach out to those who are dealing with the disorders of SPD and dyspraxia. The title of my book is I Believe In You: A Mother and Daughter’s Special Journey. If you wish to, might you share this. thanks

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