As parents of children who are “different”, at times you may feel feelings of loss, guilt and anger. You may also feel helplessness; you may not know how to help your child and you may not have access to the frequency and quality of professional input you would like.
Our children are born from our dreams. Our dreams
to be parents. Our dreams to have a second chance at living life again through them. To have daughters and sons that are like us but better; brighter, happier. We carry different images in our heads of parenthood before they are born: images of them first seeing the waves running in during a beach sunset; of touching the fresh snow lying in hills; the juice squirting in their mouth from their first Sindhri mango. Of their first words. Of their fifth birthday party full of friends and family. Of their graduation. Of their wedding.
Of their hands curling into ours forever and ever.
When a child with special needs is born to us it feels like someone rummages through our mind, pulls out those images and tears them up piece by piece.
We grieve. We grieve for that child of our dreams.
We often grieve alone. Physical disabilities- with all the challenges they have- can be seen. Neurological differences can’t. Sometimes we don’t have the words to explain how our children are different. Sometimes the people we are speaking to don’t have the capacity to listen to what we are saying.
As we go along the journey though, piece by piece we start building a new image of our child. We admire their resilience in operating in a world that has been made for brains that are wired differently than theirs. We admire their patience. We admire their honesty. Above all we admire their ability to love.
Piece by piece we put a new image together of our child and see them for who they are. Our Small Wonders.
The Our Small Wonders team.
The Our Small Wonders team believes, that you more than any other professional, will have the strongest impact on your child’s life, their well-being, happiness and sense of self. Unconditional love is the most important thing you can give to any child, even more so to a child with autism.
When working through any therapies you will provide key input. You already have a bond of trust with them. You know what they like. You know what motivates them. You will also be the most important advocate for your child. The more knowledge you have the more you will be able to speak for them.
We hope the sections that follow are useful to you.