Parenting is not an easy task. With a child on the spectrum, parents often find themselves exhausted and helpless. At times, parents could also feel isolated as not many understand the high needs of their children.
We will discuss some of the challenges parents and caregivers might face and provide some suggestions on how to cope with them.
Isolation
Having a young child with autism could be a very unique experience in your neighborhood, and many other parents might not understand what you are going through. Especially when your child is not developing in a similar level as other children, you could have all kinds of feelings such as you don’t belong, or you are out-casted.
With the increasing usage of social media nowadays, it is however easier to find local support groups and parents with similar experiences. There are regular meetings where parents and caregivers could share their knowledge and experiences.
Financial Stress
Tending a child with autism is not an easy task. Some children require supervision every minute. Oftentimes, parents are exhausted from the high-alert situation and stressed about what is happening next.
In some situations, parents find themselves having to seek private therapies. It is often difficult to maintain a work-life balance. Consequently, financial stress would start to accumulate.
Relationship Strain
Parents often have different opinions on how to raise kids. With children on the spectrum, sometimes parents are just too tired to even talk to each other.
Then there is the rest of the extended families that have all kinds of suggestions and opinions on what you should do. It is very easy to feel the whole world is against you.
Communications remains a key to resolve these challenges. It takes practice to voice your side of the story, to educate others about your own unique situation.
Anxiety about the Future
With children growing older, parents are definitely worrying about their children’s futures.
Will they be independent? If not, where will they stay and how will they live? What will they do when they need help?
All those questions become bigger and bigger and heavier side on our hearts.
Take one day at a time and handle one issue at a time.
The level of independence varies from one person to another. You might want to think about your children’s abilities and decide what they are able to do. Set goals that they can achieve and slowly work on them on a regular basis.
Our children might be slow but they will get there.