“You deserve a medal.” If you’re the mother of a child with special needs, you’ve probably heard that a time or two, and you may have felt it, too. And yet, nobody ever comes through with the metal, do they? It’s true that we get many, many rewards from the experience of loving and parenting our kids, yet a nice ribbon with something shiny attached wouldn’t hurt either.
The medals here are only virtual, alas, but imagine us hanging them around your neck with pride. Even if you’re not feeling particularly outstanding in any field at the moment, we’re pretty sure the last one is always deserved.
Terri Mauro is a former blog manager for Friendship Circle and Parenting Special Needs guide for About.com. She is the author of 50 Ways to Support Your Child's Special Education and The Everything Parents Guide to Sensory Processing Disorder. You can read more of her work on her website Mothers With Attitude and listen to her every weekday on the Parenting Roundabout Podcast. Terri has two children with special needs adopted from Russia in 1994.