Being there for your kids - Pandemic Parental Fatigue

Episode Date: April 21, 2022

Parenting a special needs child is challenging under any circumstances. Add COVID-19 and the situation compounds. This podcast is not letters, my usual format, but rather an article sent to me that I'm passing on to you. Take heart. You can both self-care and tend to your special needs child.

Hi, I'm Dr. John Robinson, and this is Teachable Moments. It's been a while since I've done a podcast, what with computer issues and getting the COVID variation twice. But I'm ready to go back to work, and we'll continue these podcasts frequently. Today I'm doing something a little different in that I am recording an article that was given to me about pandemic issues. The author is Gwen Payne, and she is at invisible moms.com. Her article is entitled, Struggling with Fatigue as the Parental of a Special Needs Child, here's what you need to know. Many parents of special needs children struggle with parental fatigue.

You can assess your fatigue levels by examining various aspects of your life. For example, if your physical capacity is dipping or your parenting satisfaction is falling, those are signs of rising fatigue. Other signs include increasing depression or anxiety and declining sleep quality. If you know you're struggling with parental fatigue, taking action is essential. Here are some pointers. First, avoid negative outcomes as you address your parental fatigue. That is, not overlooking medical conditions. As the parent of a special needs child, it's easy to assume that any feelings of tiredness are related to child rearing. However, fatigue is a symptom of a symptom of a child. However, fatigue is a symptom of a slew of medical conditions.

Long-haul COVID-19, chronic liver disease, fibromyalgia, sleep apnea, and many others can cause fatigue. If you assume your child rearing is responsible for yours, you may end up under treating a genuine medical condition, which can be dangerous. As a result, you need to make sure that you see a medical professional if your fatigue persists. Also, be aware of ensuring that you don't over it. overburden your support system. In many cases, parents of special needs children need to ask for help, particularly if they need extra self-care time. While reaching out on occasion is healthy, doing so too much can harm your relationships. For example, if you ask your spouse to take on more than their fair share of full. Similarly, if you request support from your family members and friends

too often, they may begin to feel used, causing them to withdraw. Ultimately, you need to find a balance when it comes to asking for help. One great way to begin is making sure that you give as much as you get. That keeps the relationships feeling equal and may make a significant difference. There are self-care options for parents dealing with parental fatigue. One is squeezing self-care into a busy schedule. Parents of special needs children usually don't have much time to spare. As a result, they may assume that self-care won't fit into their world. However, this is often because, cause of an inaccurate assumption about self-care. Many self-care recommendations ask people to take 20 or more minutes at a time to complete the activity, which is impractical for all parents. This leads

many parents to think that all self-care activities require a significant time commitment. Thankfully, that's not true. Even short self-care activities make a difference. For example, a yoga son's salutation takes only a few minutes and can leave you feeling reinvigorating. watching a funny video on your phone can also be self-care since laughter is a great stress reliever. By adjusting how you view self-care, you can often fit more of it into your day. Consider how you can incorporate more of those types of small self-care moments into your schedule, then choose short activities that you find soothing or enjoyable that work during those times, allowing you to participate in more self-care.

Another self-care option is to pick a personal goal to pursue. Maintaining a sense of self is challenging for any parent, particularly those raising a special needs child. If you want to keep a sense of identity, spending time pursuing a personal goal can help. It gives you a sense of achievement that isn't tied to child rearing. Plus, it gives you a chance to move towards something you want. For example, if you've always dreamed of starting a company, you can make it happen. Develop your business plan slowly over time, allowing you to build a strong foundation first. Then, choose the proper structure when it's time to form your company.

Often going with an LLC is wise. It reduces liability, has less paperwork, remains flexible, and comes with tax advantages. Just make sure you review LLC formation regulations for your state. As you can see, even big dreams are potential targets. as long as you break them into smaller pieces and take your time, you can make progress while managing your other responsibilities, allowing you to have it all. If this article stirs questions for you,

contact me through my website at www.org, thereformykids.com, or email me at John Robinson Zero Zero at Bellsaf.net. I'm Dr. Jonathan C. Robinson, licensed clinical psychologist, and Christian author of Teachable Moments, building blocks of Christian parenting. And this has been Teachable Moments. Teachable Moments, Building Blocks of Christian Parenting,

is available online at AmazonBooks.com and in local and national bookstores. More on Dr. Robinson at TMP-I-N-C.com.