because joy is the goal, not perfection
Catholic parents of physically and intellectually disabled children often miss out on so many milestones that parents of typically developing children take for granted. Thankfully, the reception of the sacraments doesn’t need to be one of those missed moments. According to the USCCB document Guidelines For the Celebration of the Sacraments with Persons with Disabilities; …
Continue reading “Has Your Special Needs Child Been Denied A Sacrament?”
As many states open up and do away with mask mandates, special needs families are trying to find a safe way to get back to normal. Struggling with a lack of in-person therapies and services, many families have seen their children reject or not benefit from the online options offered. The isolation of quarantine has …
Continue reading “Special Needs Families in Quarantine: One Year Later”
Epiphany commemorates the arrival of the Magi at the home of Christ. The feast is often overshadowed by all the celebrations of Christmas and is noted by most as simply the end of the Christmas season. We run the risk of forgetting the Wise Men, their gifts to Jesus, and the message they send to …
As the founder of Accepting the Gift, I’m always on the lookout for resources that speak directly to Catholic special needs parents and the unique struggles they face. When I learned about The Caregiver’s Companion: A Christ Centered Journal to Nourish Your Soul, I was eager to talk to its creators and learn more about …
Continue reading “The Caregiver’s Companion; A Book For All Caregivers”
Shortly after the diagnosis of my son with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, I feel into a deep depression and state of spiritual despair. I was angry with God and unable to pray most days, and while I thought I should consider professional counseling, I couldn’t imagine fitting one more appointment into days already packed with homeschooling, …
Continue reading “Arise From Darkness: The Book to Read Following A Difficult Diagnosis”
Being a special needs parent can be overwhelming and frustrating. It’s not that we don’t love our kids, but it’s hard to be a caregiver, parent, and now for many of us, the primary educator and therapist day in and day out. Sometimes we get angry, and yell, or cry and it’s easy to feel …
Continue reading “What My Special Needs Parents Did Right: An Interview With Emily DeArdo”
Cheryl Swope, an educator who has created an entire curriculum designed for children with special needs (available through Memoria Press), used to receive one to two emails a week from families curious to know if providing a classical education for their special needs child was possible. Now, following the upheaval of COVID-19, she’s receiving at …
As states across the U.S. figure out how and when to open up following weeks of COVID-19 induced quarantine, special needs families are struggling behind closed doors in unique ways, and will continue to do so, long after their friends with typically developing children return to a somewhat normal life. As the mother of two …
Most prayer books directed at Catholic families suggest praying together as a family. Many families struggle with how to work a family rosary, or other prayer, into their daily routine. Despite the importance of prayer, between school, work, outside activities, chores, errands and everything else, it’s not uncommon for family prayers to fall by the …
Continue reading “Praying Together as a Special Needs Family”
I dislike helicopter parenting. Very early on my husband and I both realized, and thoroughly embraced the fact, that getting these kids out of the house sooner rather than later meant encouraging independence from the get go. We agreed to let our children have the same carefree childhood we both grew up experiencing. As baby …