No one can ever say that parenting is easy. It doesn’t matter where you come from or what level of wealth you have, parenting is as difficult as can be. When you are parenting with a disability, though, it can be more of a challenge. An able-bodied person who is dealing with children is going to have a very different experience than a parent who is confined to a wheelchair, or who has limited use of their arms. The things that some parents find easy and take for granted are things that a disabled parent can really find a mountain to climb.
Families where one parent is disabled face a huge battle to find support and get the right help both financially and physically. If you’ve become disabled after becoming a parent, it can be a huge life shock to you and your children. The way that you’ve been used to doing things changes dramatically and it’s an adjustment for everyone in your home.
If your disability is the result of an accident, then companies like www.braunslaw.com can help you to fight for what you are owed in terms of compensation. That money could go a long way to helping you to adapt your house or get the Motability car that you need to help you get around.
You may not have considered the stigma that disabled parents go through on a daily basis, mainly because you haven’t had to struggle yourself. Assumptions get made every day about the ability these parents have to look after their children and whether they have enough support. Now that you can consider yourself a part of the crowd, it’s important to learn what it’s like to be a parent with a disability.
Isolation
One of the biggest issues as a disabled parent is that you’ll come across is the feeling of isolation. Not everywhere is accessible for parents who struggle in wheelchairs or with other walking aids, and when you need help you could find it hard to ask anyone. Your parenting style may be different from others – or so they assume – and you could find it hard to get to know other parents as they can’t relate to how you parent.
Skills
Being a parent is hard, but it’s even harder when you need added support. The problem comes where others make comments about your parenting in a way that just isn’t kind. People try to mean well, but there’s a fine line between being patronizing and being kind. It’s important to make it clear when you are and when you aren’t coping, and if someone offends you, you should say so in a way that makes it clear without being rude.
Assumptions
When people cannot understand how you feel, they’ll assume you can’t cope, you can’t manage or that you can’t look after your children if you can’t look after yourself. These assumptions are not nice, but they do happen. If prejudices are making you uncomfortable, speak to your partner or family for extra help.
Parenting with a disability is not easy, but you keep on keeping on because your children need to you to.
