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Sarah Halstead

You are here: Home | Family | When You Have A Child With Special Needs {Guest Post}

July 25, 2011 By Sarah Halstead

When You Have A Child With Special Needs {Guest Post}

Filed Under: Family Tagged With: guest post

Today I want to introduce to you- Jessica from Four Plus an Angel. Her words are amazing and so is she. I truly love reading her blog everyday. Thank you so much Jess for writing a post for my blog. You can visit Jessica’s blog by clicking the picture below.

I was so honored when Sarah asked me to guest post. She is one of those people I connected with early on in my blogging days and we have always stayed in touch. Her photography is beyond amazing and I admire the mom that she is to her to beautiful boys. There is one topic that Sarah and I now have in common. We are both parents to children with special needs. Watching Sarah go through the early phases of coming to terms with Carsyn’s diagnosis has brought back many memories and reminded me of things I have learned along the way.



When you have a child with special needs

… you will cheer for the little things. The faintest trace of a smile, the wobbly grip of a spoon and the first zip of a zipper will make your day… make your year. You will cry tears of joy and jump up and down while calling your husband at work because you, an army of therapists and a very determined little child, made this tiny milestone possible.

… you will earn your degree. At some point along the way you will discover that the doctors and teachers and therapists know a lot, but nothing compares to what you have. The months you have spent watching your baby grow, searching for answers and accepting nothing but the best, have qualified you for the highest of degrees in parenting. Everyone else will come and go but you are the constant and your honorary doctorate was completed many sleepless nights ago.

… you will learn more from your child than you could have ever imagined. Raising a child with special needs is a constant life lesson in perseverance, determination and will power. These little people can somehow rise above it all and try their hardest every day, reminding us that we have more to learn from them than they do from us, and that is exactly what they are here for.

… you will find your voice. You will begin the journey scared and overwhelmed and one day you will realize that you are not that person anymore. You have argued your case with the most qualified of specialists when your gut told you they were wrong and you have petitioned your school district for the perfect placement when you knew it was best. And you never blinked an eye, because it was for your child.

… you will pat yourself on the back. You will look at your child, breaking every barrier put in front of him and surpassing what your wildest dreams could have fathomed for his future years ago and know that you did it. You both did it.

And it was worth every single second.


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Comments

  1. Wiley says

    July 27, 2011 at 5:16 pm

    Love this... and I don't have a child with true special needs (one that is having some odd behavioral things that might be seizures and one who was a preemie, but neither meets the normal definitions).
  2. Summer says

    July 26, 2011 at 5:09 pm

    wow touching..Thanks for posting this.
  3. Tiffany Rhodes says

    July 26, 2011 at 8:10 am

    This is sooo true! I do not have a child of my own with special needs, but I was a nanny for a child with brittle bones and was a part of his therapy sessions. You do develop a voice for your own child. Thanks for sharing. :]
  4. Karen says

    July 26, 2011 at 3:59 am

    Very touching post Sarah. I can imagine how much stronger you have become because of your angel. Your child will grow happy and strong since he/she has a mother who loves him/her so much.
  5. Marie says

    July 26, 2011 at 12:23 am

    Love this post! He is so lucky to have you as a mom, who is cheering him on daily!
  6. kristin says

    July 25, 2011 at 11:22 pm

    this is such a wonderful and beautiful post. I have a son with autism and it was so heart warming to read such a beautiful story from another mother. Thank you so much for sharing!
  7. Amber's Articles says

    July 25, 2011 at 4:27 pm

    Thank you for loving your child so much and for working so hard to make he/she the best he/she can be. It certainly reminded me of the countless blessings, lessons, challenges, and successes that are a result of parenthood.
    • Jessica says

      July 25, 2011 at 9:13 pm

      Thanks for such a nice comment. Having a child with special needs definitely causes you to refocus on what is important in life.
  8. Andie says

    July 25, 2011 at 2:25 pm

    Although I am not quite there yet (on a diagnosis), I totally understand the feeling.
    • Jessica says

      July 25, 2011 at 9:12 pm

      Oh it is so tough when you are first getting the diagnosis and coming to terms with things. I remember those years well. Hang in there.
  9. amy says

    July 25, 2011 at 11:38 am

    Wow...I read this twice trying to come up with the words to describe how much I identify with your words and the best I could come up with was wow. I understand completely...wow so beautifully written...beautiful!
    • Jessica says

      July 25, 2011 at 9:11 pm

      Thanks so much Amy!
  10. Courtney @ The Mommy Matters says

    July 25, 2011 at 11:31 am

    Great post, Jessica! Motherhood is hard enough as it is; throw in a child with special needs and attributes and I can't imagine the trials that you have to overcome. You are BOTH such great moms and so admirable in your perseverance.
    • Jessica says

      July 25, 2011 at 9:11 pm

      Thanks so much Courtney, have a child with special needs truly makes you appreciate all of the little things.
  11. Kaitlyn says

    July 25, 2011 at 10:37 am

    What a great post! In our sea of love
    • Jessica says

      July 25, 2011 at 9:13 pm

      Thanks Kaitlyn!
  12. Jessica says

    July 25, 2011 at 9:36 am

    Thanks so much for having me Sarah!

Welcome

I'm Sarah and I am the writer behind this blog. I love sharing recipes, DIY projects, photos and about my everyday life. I married my high school sweetheart Kenny. We have three boys and one baby girl - Dustyn, Carsyn, Prestyn, and Annelyn. Thanks for stopping by, can't wait to get to know you more. Read More…

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