Read: "So, the parent must step out of time and place and become the parent this child needs, not the parent that society (and the parent's ego) dictates. It requires an almost superhuman love, where the parent's expectations are set aside and the needs of the child are met first." -- Demitri Papolos, M.D., and Janice Papolos, The Bipolar Child
Reflect: Am I being the parent my child needs? Do I let my own expectations get in the way of helping my child? Do I think of it as love when I put my child's needs first, or indulgence?
Respond: Try to see the world today through your child's eyes. A behavior analysis may help you figure out what he or she needs from you, and reading all you can about your child's disability can help you become a strong and effective advocate.
Every weekday, take a moment to read, reflect, and respond to a passage from a book, blog, or article.
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There will come a time, I hope, when society allows parents to step outside the expectations thrust upon them, so that they can be the parent their child needs. When society understands that when a child is parented the way they require, they will come closer to the society in which we live, and eventually, hopefully, the parents can come closer to that society too. It is so hard when everything has to be done backwards – behave according to what society wants to see, and try to sneak the parenting in when nobody’s looking.