Sunday, May 13, 2007

Happy Mother's Day


photo credit-coolwater32


Here's to moms. All moms. But especially those who have special needs kids.

It's the 21st century and all, and women have achieved an equal place in society in many ways. When it comes to families with special needs kids, however, one almost always finds that it's the moms that bear a disproportionate burden of taking care of the children. Whether that involves putting aside her own career to stay home, modifying her career path in order to be more accessible at home, or burning the candle at both ends in order to also take care of her children, it's still the moms that generally are in the front lines of child care, especially with special needs kids.

This is not to denigrate all of the great dads out there doing there part, and I'm sure that there are dads that do as much, if not more, than the moms. But for whatever reason, it's mostly moms that you'll find taking the kids back and forth to school, going to most of the IEP meetings, and co-ordinating care between the various doctors, therapists, and others involved in caring for their child.

Moms never doubt that they have the best kids in the world. And moms instinctively (and at times, ferociously) fight to protect their kids against unfair barriers and advocate tirelessly on their kids behalf in systems that are stacked against them. They love their kids completely and endlessly, no exceptions. The thought of giving up on their kids never enters their mind.

So here's to all the moms in the world. You've cared for us, pushed us, educated us, advocated for us, and thoroughly loved us. Without you we'd be lost.

Thanks.

6 comments:

Niksmom said...

Wow, that was wonderful. Thanks, I think I need to print that one to re-read on those really tough days when I am p.o.'d at Niksdad or feeling underappreciated. (Let me be clear, Niksdad is one of those dads who is a complete partner in our adventures in parenting, but sometimes...).

Daisy said...

What a wonderful post! I hope to see you giving yourself a lot of credit when Father's Day roles around.

kristina said...

Happy Mother's Day to Liz----and your day is coming in about a month........

Stimey said...

Thank YOU. I like this: Moms never doubt that they have the best kids in the world.

Daisy said...

Maybe that was a Freudian slip -- I meant when Father's Day "rolls" around. Mother and father roles often overlap, and certainly do while raising disabled children.

Anonymous said...

Thank you. That was a really nice post!