A Special-Needs Mother's Day Wish List

[Guest guest]

Forwarding as is and can some of y'all relate?

A Special-Needs Mother's Day Wish List

From Terri Mauro,

Your Guide to Parenting Special Needs.

FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!

http://specialchildren.about.com/od/needalaugh/a/momwishlist.htm?p=1

Psst ... moms! Commercials are going to try to convince your spouse

that jewelry or candy or flowers are the perfect Mother's Day gift,

but you know all too well that the important things in life don't hang

on a necklace or clip round a wrist. Things like sleep. Understanding.

Revenge. Tailor this list to your own special needs, then use it to

give your significant other a clue about giving a significant present.

* * * * *

To my loving partner in parenting:

I know you're trying to figure out a Mother's Day present for me (and

if you aren't, take this as a big, fat hint).

Jewelry is a lovely thought, but not exactly practical, given that our

child might steal, break, perseverate on, or require us to hock

anything nice to pay for medical expenses. Candy is always

appreciated, but since I've just consumed all the children's Easter

sweets to save them from obesity, diabetes, and allergens, I'm not

really in the mood. Instead, honey, why not pick one of these gifts

I'd really love. They may take a little more effort than something in

the Hallmark aisle, but they'll make a big difference to me.

1. You know that material I've been asking you to read about our

child's disabilities, that stack about 500 pages high? Read it. Now.

Really.

2. Do some research of your own for a change and bring me something I

haven't seen before. Then explain it to me.

3. Find the home number of every specialist and educator who ever

dissed me and make some really good prank phone calls.

4. Offer to stand guard duty at the bathroom door while I take a nice,

long, hot bath, free of constant cries of " Moooooooooooooom. "

5. Buy some sturdy boxes for storing all the children's school papers,

and then believe me when I say I have to save everything they've ever

done for possible documentation of learning progress.

6. Buy some sturdy notebooks for storing all the children's specialist

reports, and then organize them for me so I can always find the exact

one I want in a snap.

7. Sit down with me for one hour to discuss decisions we have to make

about our child's behavior, treatment, schooling, and/or future. No TV

watching, newspaper reading, or dozing allowed.

8. Next time you're tempted to make some crack about a neighbor or a

teacher or a family member that you just know our child is going to

repeat out of context at the worst possible time ... don't. Just don't.

9. More precious to me than diamonds and rubies is a good long nap.

Make it happen.

10. Next time we have a dispute over discipline, I win. (What's that?

I always win anyway? It's the gift that keeps on giving!)

This About.com page has been optimized for print. To view this page in

its original form, please visit:

http://specialchildren.about.com/od/needalaugh/a/momwishlist.htm

©2007 About.com, Inc., a part of The New York Times Company. All

rights reserved.

[Guest guest]

LOVE IT!!!! LOL. leilani

________________________________

To:

Sent: Wednesday, May 6, 2009 9:45:23 PM

Subject: A Special-Needs Mother's Day Wish List

Reposting this

A Special-Needs Mother's Day Wish List

Forwarding as is and can some of y'all relate?

A Special-Needs Mother's Day Wish List

From Terri Mauro,

Your Guide to Parenting Special Needs.

FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!

http://specialchild ren.about. com/od/needalaug h/a/momwishlist. htm?p=1

Psst ... moms! Commercials are going to try to convince your spouse

that jewelry or candy or flowers are the perfect Mother's Day gift,

but you know all too well that the important things in life don't hang

on a necklace or clip round a wrist. Things like sleep. Understanding.

Revenge. Tailor this list to your own special needs, then use it to

give your significant other a clue about giving a significant present.

* * * * *

To my loving partner in parenting:

I know you're trying to figure out a Mother's Day present for me (and

if you aren't, take this as a big, fat hint).

Jewelry is a lovely thought, but not exactly practical, given that our

child might steal, break, perseverate on, or require us to hock

anything nice to pay for medical expenses. Candy is always

appreciated, but since I've just consumed all the children's Easter

sweets to save them from obesity, diabetes, and allergens, I'm not

really in the mood. Instead, honey, why not pick one of these gifts

I'd really love. They may take a little more effort than something in

the Hallmark aisle, but they'll make a big difference to me.

1. You know that material I've been asking you to read about our

child's disabilities, that stack about 500 pages high? Read it. Now.

Really.

2. Do some research of your own for a change and bring me something I

haven't seen before. Then explain it to me.

3. Find the home number of every specialist and educator who ever

dissed me and make some really good prank phone calls.

4. Offer to stand guard duty at the bathroom door while I take a nice,

long, hot bath, free of constant cries of " Moooooooooooooom. "

5. Buy some sturdy boxes for storing all the children's school papers,

and then believe me when I say I have to save everything they've ever

done for possible documentation of learning progress.

6. Buy some sturdy notebooks for storing all the children's specialist

reports, and then organize them for me so I can always find the exact

one I want in a snap.

7. Sit down with me for one hour to discuss decisions we have to make

about our child's behavior, treatment, schooling, and/or future. No TV

watching, newspaper reading, or dozing allowed.

8. Next time you're tempted to make some crack about a neighbor or a

teacher or a family member that you just know our child is going to

repeat out of context at the worst possible time ... don't. Just don't.

9. More precious to me than diamonds and rubies is a good long nap.

Make it happen.

10. Next time we have a dispute over discipline, I win. (What's that?

I always win anyway? It's the gift that keeps on giving!)

This About.com page has been optimized for print. To view this page in

its original form, please visit:

http://specialchild ren.about. com/od/needalaug h/a/momwishlist. htm

©2007 About.com, Inc., a part of The New York Times Company. All

rights reserved.