Normal Is A Lie! How Special Needs Families Do Life Differently
Moms Talk Autism Podcast12/06/21 • 61 min
Normal is Lie: Doing Life Differently as a Special Needs Parent
We are taking you to “Church” this week!
In this episode, we draw the distinctions of The Family Systems Theory and how it is a harmful model in setting the pace or standard for family life. The prototype of the family when there is a child with a disability, it’s much different. That model also sees disability as negative. The problem with that is that pathology sets the tone for the points of view society has about disability. Yes, disability is real, but it doesn’t have to be bad. It can be really beautiful, not that I want to romanticize it, you just don’t want people to miss out on the good things or write off the value our children bring to the world.
Hardest part of all, we don’t have a point of reference for the framework(s) of families like ours.
With that comes the additional layers of shame, comparison, and feeling like a burden.
Perfectly functioning nuclear families aren’t the pinnacle of human society and what we don’t know is that this model has to be thrown out once we embrace or know our child has a diagnosis.
We are conditioned and groomed for a different kind of life, and it’s not the one we have been handed.
Again, it is important to recognize we don’t have a point of reference like the nuclear family with neurotypical or typically developing children.
Helpful tips:
- Lower your expectations
- Delegate the things you think are only “mom duties”
- Reframe the setbacks as opportunities to reflect
- You don’t have to do it all
- Prioritize what is most important
- Don’t subscribe to cliches
- Your biggest job is to become mentally strong
Check us out and say hello
Where to find Moms Talk Autism
Where to find Jody
Where to find Shannon
Where to find Jean
Where to find Tash
Where to find Brittney
12/06/21 • 61 min
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