One of the most difficult jobs in the world is being a parent. It’s even harder when there are additional challenges as a parent with a disability. The problem is that there is not enough information out there for parents with disabilities, especially as most information focuses on the child with a disability instead.
No one knows how to parent when they are first blessed with a child. When you have the extra challenges of a disability in front of you because you had an idiot driver hit you in a car accident, there is a whole new way of parenting to learn. When you are trying to do your very best with your children, you have to remember to fill your cup first and foremost. For that to work for you, you need the clever tips below for helping you to parent the best way you can – there’s no such thing as limits!
You Can Do It.
The very first tip that you need is to remember that you CAN do this. It won’t feel that way in the early weeks of your accident, but you can. Forget every single person who tells you that your ability to parent will be compromised. You simply need to relearn brand new ways to parent that will accommodate your disability. There is always a way to make your life with your kids work, and all you need to do is remind yourself that this is something that you can do.
Be Creative.
It’s unfortunate, but there is a limited number of products that a parent can use to adapt their disability to their children. It means that you need to get creative, and that means working products to your needs. Using short cribs that will allow you to sit in a chair nearby and reach in without standing or even adding handles to baby bottles to help your baby feed is a good idea. You can also buy clothing that’s got magnets inside instead of zips and buttons. It’s super helpful when dressing a squirmy baby!
Ask For Help.
Pre-accident, you would have asked for help for certain elements of parenting. Post-disability, you may still need to ask for help. Depending on when your disability began, you will often find it harder to ask for help. Yes, you will have asked before your accident, but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t feel worse afterward. The thing is, asking for help is necessary if you want to ensure that you have a village around you! It doesn’t mean that you can’t parent – remember that!
Keep A Routine.
As much as possible, create a routine that works for you and the kids and stick with it. The more you get used to your routine, muscle memory becomes a thing. You don’t need to try and dive in all at once when it comes to parenting, you just need to get everyone used to the same routines at last.
Being a parent is hard, and having a disability is hard. If you’re open-minded, you can tackle every single obstacle with grace!
