The Ten Commandments for Parents of Handicapped Children

 1. Take one day at a time, and take that day positively. You don't have control over the future, but you do have control over today.

2. Never underestimate your child's potential. Allow him, encourage him, expect him to develop to the best of his abilities.

3. Find and allow positive mentors: parents and professionals who can share with you their experience, advice, and support.

4. Provide and be involved with the most appropriate educational and learning environments for your child from infancy on.

5. Keep in mind the feelings and needs of your spouse and your other children. Remind them that this child does not get more of your love just because he gets more of your time.

6. Answer only to your conscience: then you'll be able to answer to your child. You need not justify your actions to your friends or the public.

7. Be honest with your feelings. You can't be a super-parent 24 hours a day. Allow yourself jealousy, anger, pity, frustration, and depression in small amounts whenever necessary.

8. Be kind to yourself. Don't focus continually on what needs to be done. Remember to look at what you have accomplished.

9. Stop and smell the roses. Take advantage of the fact that you have gained a special appreciation for the little miracles in life that others take for granted.

10. Keep and use a sense of humor. Cracking up with laughter can keep you from cracking up from stress.

Author Unknown

DON'T QUIT

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low, and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you frown a bit,
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is strange with its twists and turns,
As everyone of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about,
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don't give up though the pace seems slow,
You may succeed with another blow.

Success is failure turned inside out,
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you can never tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit,
It's when things seem worst
That you must not quit.

God Chooses Mom for Disabled Child

Most women become mothers by accident, some by choice, a few by social pressures, and a couple by habit. This year, nearly 100,000 women will become mothers of handicapped children.
 
Did you ever wonder how mothers of handicapped children are chosen? Somehow I visualize God hovering over Earth selecting his instruments forpropagation with great care and deliberation. As he observes, he instructs his angels to make notes in a giant ledger.
"Armstrong, Beth; son; patron saint, Matthew.
"Forrest, Marjorie; daughter; patron saint, Cecelia.
"Rudledge, Carrie; twins; patron saint.... give her Gerard. He's used to profanity.
" Finally, he passes a name to an angel and smiles, "Give her a handicapped child."
The angel is curious. "Why this one, God? She's so happy."
"Exactly," smiles God. "Could I give a handicapped child a mother who does not know laughter? That would be cruel."
"But has she patience?" asks the angel.
"I don't want her to have too much patience or she will drown in a sea of self-pity and despair. Once the shock and resentment wears off, she'll handle it."
"I watched her today. She has that feeling of self and independence. She'll have to teach the child to live in her world and that's not going to be easy."
"But, Lord, I don't think she even believes in you."
God smiles. "No matter. I can fix that. This one is perfect. She has just enough selfishness." The angel gasps, "Selfishness? Is that a virtue?"
God nods. "If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally, she'll never survive. Yes, there is a woman I will bless with a child less then perfect. She doesn't realize it yet, but she is to be envied. She will never take for granted a spoken word. She will never consider a step ordinary. When her child says "Momma" for the first time, she will be present at a miracle and know it! When she describes a tree or a sunset to her blind child, she will see it as few people ever see my creations." "I will permit her to see clearly the things I see---ignorance, cruelty, prejudice--- and allow her to rise above them. She will never be alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life because she is doing my work as surely as she is here by my side."
"And what about her patron saint?" asks the angel, his pen poised in midair.
God smiles.  "A mirror will suffice." 

Author Unknown

Dream Big Dreams!

Every one of us is a mother, father, son or daughter - and we all have dreams - big and small. Unfortunately, too many of us keep these dreams to ourselves because we fear what others might say. My point in writing this is to say it's OK to dream and dream big and talk about your dreams so that others are inspired to dream big too. What a world we would have if everyone did this!

My dad was a dreamer. He told me that one day he was going to have a sailboat. We would go to the boat shows whenever they came to town and climb into them. My father would talk to the sales people and I would be busy pretending to sail the boat. It was fun. Then one day we went to the boat place and took out a sailboat on the ocean, what a thrill! Soon afterwards he bought his first boat and named it "LETSGO" and we sailed and sailed big bays and seas around New England. When I was older I got to be the skipper because he not only told me his dream he showed it to me and let me taste the idea on my own. Now I was inspired to dream big too.

You see dreams can do wonders for you. When you believe in your dreams, they take on a life of their own. Now you start dreaming up things to do to make your inspiration a reality. More dreams , more inspiration, then more dreams and a few more. Then one morning you wake up and the dream has come true.

My dreams have taken me to so many beautiful places; I've been below the surface of the ocean watching the beauty of coral and fish as I swim by. I've flown an airplane with pontoon floats from a lake in northern Maine and another different plane on a flight over the Grand Canyon. I've also ridden under my own wind blown sails. The pictures in my head are priceless and better than any I've taken.

Some of the best times I've had were listening to older people talk about their dreams and what their dreams did for their lives. When I hear some of their dreams it inspires me to think and dream how I might do that too.

I interviewed a man some years ago who was 80-something years young. He was a sturdy man with the hands to match the story he told me. Hands still strong enough to crack the shells of the walnuts he offered me and munched on. He had outlived his wife but still lived in their neat home with bookcases near the fireplace he no doubt built. I asked one question and I didn’t move for hours. His story of leaving home to explore the world and learn a new trade was fascinating to my young mind. But it was after hearing his tale that I realized what he was really saying to me - not as an aspiring journalist but as a person. He told me he dreamed that he would have a great life and he had one, so, I could dream about having a great life and get one too.

Just as my father had said to me earlier, here was another confirmation. I did just what they said to do, because I could do anything I wanted. Therefore, I say dream... dream big dreams about your great life to come. I’m heading out toward my next one, how about you?

William Curtis

My perfect Child

As my children were born,
I wanted them to be perfect.
When they were babies,
wanted them to smile
and be content playing with their toys.
I wanted them to be happy
and to laugh continually instead of crying
and being demanding.
wanted them to see the beautiful side of life.
As they grew older,
I wanted them to be giving instead of selfish.
I wanted them to skip the terrible twos.
I wanted them to stay innocent forever.
As they became teen-agers,
I wanted them to be obedient
and not rebellious, mannerly and not mouthy.
I wanted them to be full of love,
gentle and kind-hearted.
"Oh, God, give me a child like this"
was often my prayer.
One day he did.
Some call him handicapped...
I call him Perfect!!

Author Unknown