The Many Emotions of Parents of Kids With Disabilities -- as Told by GIFs
As a parent of two children with disabilities, I find I can experience several emotions at the same time — even when they seem conflicting. I can experience great joy watching my child reach a milestone while feeling sadness knowing other people won’t recognize the enormity of the accomplishment.
There are also the emotions that rush through me when people say hurtful or thoughtless comments and the emotions I feel when I look at my kids an am overcome with love, joy and how proud I feel that these are my kids.
Because I know I need laughter and happiness in my life, I found GIFs that perfectly describe many of the emotions I’ve felt as a parent of kids with disabilities.
I hope they make you laugh, too.
1. When someone tells you, “I could never do it.”
2. When you get ready to go to an IEP meeting.
3. When you look at your child and you get all the feels.
4. When you wonder if you made the right choice for your child.
5. When you finally get insurance to approve what your child needs.
6. When the specialist your child really needs to see doesn’t have an opening for six months.
7. When you find conflicting information while doing research.
8. When someone says, “But your child looks so ‘normal!’”
9. When you see school is calling.
10. When someone says a rude comment about your child.
11. When your child reached that milestone they have been working so hard to achieve.
12. When you and your child are exhausted, yet you have one more appointment this week.
13. When family members tell you how to parent your child.
14. When someone says, “Please fill out these forms.”
15. When you successfully help your child with a new transition.
16. When someone says, “You are a stay-at-home parent? I would love not to have to work.”
17. When your child accomplishes what experts said they would never do.
18. When you see other parents of kids with disabilities.
19. When you see how hard your child works to accomplish new things.
20. When you feel ready to take on the world for your child.
Editor’s note: This post does not condone violence, but it encourages laughs!
Banner image via giphy
Ellen Stumbo is the founder of Disability Matters, an organization with the mission to encourage every church to embrace disability. Ellen is a national speaker who focuses on issues pertaining adoption, faith, disability and parenting kids with disabilities. Ellen writes for several online platforms including Focus on the Family, LifeWay, MomSense, Not Alone, Mamapedia, Group, The Mighty and the Huffington Post. Her writing also appears in several book anthologies. Ellen blogs at ellenstumbo.com and you can also find her on Twitter and Facebook.
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