Are you a caregiver to someone with Special Needs?

Caregivers are often severely neglected. Their needs go unmet, their desires go unfulfilled and their dreams are often delayed or even derailed. 

Caregivers tend to feel extreme guilt when faced with the opportunity to 'indulge themselves' and as a result, they go without emotional support, without care, without intimacy, without nurturing and without self-love.

So, whether you are a caregiver of a 'special needs' child or the custodian of a sick/elderly family member, the most important thing you can do today is realize that you, too, have Special Needs. And in order to continue to provide for the needs of your loved one...you MUST learn to provide for the Special Needs of yourself.

Find a way to carve 10 min out of your super busy day and grab your journal. Write down your top 3 needs and whether or not those needs are being met. Also include what you would like to do (if you could) to get those needs met.  

Want to take it a step further...what are the top 3 needs in each of the 7 areas of your life? 

Autism - A Dear Friend's Journey With An Autistic Son

Michele, a very close friend of mine is the mother of Danson, an 8 year old prodigy who happens to be autistic. Looking back on what she's grown through over the past few years I remember witnessing her desperate search for answers regarding her son's developmental challenge, I remember praying with her through her painful acceptance of his diagnosis. And then sympathizing with her in the midst of her angst and frustration when she realized that there were no 'parental advocates' supporting families with autistic children.

I championed her quest to find unconventional resources to support him and I watched her abandon her career in an effort to save her child. I stood in amazement as she recounted her painful experience in the first internationally recognized documentary on Autism - entitled Autism Everyday. I cheered her on when she was featured on The Oprah Winfrey show on Autism and stood in utter shock as she shared how costly treatment had become and how there are no governmental support programs for families with Autistic children. I celebrated with her as her son clearly communicated for the first time at age 7 while using his letter-board.

Throughout her journey one thing has not changed...her absolutely unconditional love and devotion to her son, Danson.  So this issue of The Love Letter is for you, Michele, and for women just like you who have completely given themselves over to LOVE!

My prayer is that all of you learn, through The Self-Love Movement, how to balance the love for your 'loved ones' with the love that God needs for you to extend towards yourselves. Of course it's easier said than done...but remember...with God, all things are possible.

About Autism - Autism impairs a person's ability to speak, connect communicate and relate to others. One in every 150 children born today will be diagnosed with Autism. It's more common than pediatric cancer, diabetes, and AIDS combined. Autism occurs 4 times more often in boys than girls. There is no known cure. To learn more visit AutismSpeaks.org.

FORUM

The 'Special Needs' of a Special Needs Mom

This month's Love Letter focuses on Autism, but we recognize that many of us have someone in our lives with other special needs. If you're a 'Special Needs Mom (or Dad)', visit our forum and share how we, as a community, can support you.

Members, here's your chance to support one another as a community. Get in on the chat!

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