Wish List

Copyright © 2006 by Terri Mauro

A Special Needs Parent's Wish List

Text: So you'd like to give me a gift? That's nice. But the things I really need don't wrap so well. Put away that paper, keep your card, and give me one of these. All I really want is: Babysitting: A few nights out this year will do me a lot more good than another sweater or DVD. * House Cleaning: Oh, yeah. Come clean my house. Anytime. Do you do windows? * Homework Help: Teach my kid math. Help her write a paper. Drill him with flashcards. Give me a break. * Sounding Board: Therapy? Expensive. Someone like you, who I can call and gripe to for hours? Priceless. * Back-Up: Come to IEP meetings and doctor's appointments with me. Bring tissues. And maybe a baseball bat. * Child's Play: My child wants to play with me, needs to play with me, all the darn time. You take a few shifts, okay? * Sleep: Offer to take my kids to school one morning. Also wake them up, and get them dressed and fed. I'm sleeping in.