Comments on: Working Parents, Special Needs Kids http://www.blisstree.com/articles/working-parents-special-needs-kids/ Family, Health, Home and Lifestyles Fri, 18 Dec 2009 08:00:41 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Marla http://www.blisstree.com/articles/working-parents-special-needs-kids/comment-page-1/#comment-563177 Marla Fri, 12 Dec 2008 04:22:46 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/working-parents-special-needs-kids/#comment-563177 Before we adopted M I worked with children and adults with special needs. I worked in the group homes and helped people find jobs. I loved it. The few times I have thought about going back to work I always consider social work again but considering my life I think it would be too much of the same. I don't think I could be my all to M if I was sharing that energy with clients as well. I have tried working many times. With J traveling it is impossible. With M's ongoing health I would panic every day wondering if I would have to call in. I have given up on working for now. I am always in awe of people who work full time and have children with special needs. My mom did it and I now know how hard that must have been for her. Before we adopted M I worked with children and adults with special needs. I worked in the group homes and helped people find jobs. I loved it. The few times I have thought about going back to work I always consider social work again but considering my life I think it would be too much of the same. I don’t think I could be my all to M if I was sharing that energy with clients as well.

I have tried working many times. With J traveling it is impossible. With M’s ongoing health I would panic every day wondering if I would have to call in. I have given up on working for now.

I am always in awe of people who work full time and have children with special needs. My mom did it and I now know how hard that must have been for her.

]]> By: Regan http://www.blisstree.com/articles/working-parents-special-needs-kids/comment-page-1/#comment-550371 Regan Mon, 08 Dec 2008 21:32:17 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/working-parents-special-needs-kids/#comment-550371 If some things had worked out the way that I had hoped, I would have gone back to work. As they have not, I continue to be a stay-at-home mom, but events have also turned so that I have developed new interests and opportunities related, but not always specific to, autism, so that I also work from home, and have learned skills in areas that I might not have anticipated. In some ways it may be harder on my husband, who has a very demanding academic schedule which allows some, but not much, flexibility. On occasion I miss my old career, but 'tis what 'tis. If some things had worked out the way that I had hoped, I would have gone back to work.

As they have not, I continue to be a stay-at-home mom, but events have also turned so that I have developed new interests and opportunities related, but not always specific to, autism, so that I also work from home, and have learned skills in areas that I might not have anticipated. In some ways it may be harder on my husband, who has a very demanding academic schedule which allows some, but not much, flexibility.

On occasion I miss my old career, but ’tis what ’tis.

]]> By: Leila http://www.blisstree.com/articles/working-parents-special-needs-kids/comment-page-1/#comment-563767 Leila Mon, 08 Dec 2008 20:59:14 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/working-parents-special-needs-kids/#comment-563767 Work gives me balance but now I feel like I need even more, like a hobby or something else to do at home. We need to have a passion and an identity besides the ones of mother and spouse, which are wonderful but not enough to fulfill your whole life. At least that's how I feel. Work gives me balance but now I feel like I need even more, like a hobby or something else to do at home. We need to have a passion and an identity besides the ones of mother and spouse, which are wonderful but not enough to fulfill your whole life. At least that’s how I feel.

]]> By: FXSmom http://www.blisstree.com/articles/working-parents-special-needs-kids/comment-page-1/#comment-564735 FXSmom Mon, 08 Dec 2008 17:12:29 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/working-parents-special-needs-kids/#comment-564735 I never thought about it giving me balance but it really does. I definitely don't take work home. And the long drive also helps me transition from office to home. Wow...thats neat. I never thought about it giving me balance but it really does. I definitely don’t take work home. And the long drive also helps me transition from office to home. Wow…thats neat.

]]> By: Jen http://www.blisstree.com/articles/working-parents-special-needs-kids/comment-page-1/#comment-564718 Jen Mon, 08 Dec 2008 11:00:56 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/working-parents-special-needs-kids/#comment-564718 I'm glad that you're getting a bit of a holiday from work- I have infinite respect for parents with special needs kids who can hold down a job as well! I've tried to go back to work four times now, which hasn't worked out- most of the time someone ends up in hospital and that's that. But I've always thought that when I finally do make it back I will actually try to do something as far away from autism as possible- not that I don't want to make a contribution, but I'm afraid that I would just be too burned out on it to be as effective with my kids. Enjoy your time off :-) I’m glad that you’re getting a bit of a holiday from work- I have infinite respect for parents with special needs kids who can hold down a job as well!

I’ve tried to go back to work four times now, which hasn’t worked out- most of the time someone ends up in hospital and that’s that. But I’ve always thought that when I finally do make it back I will actually try to do something as far away from autism as possible- not that I don’t want to make a contribution, but I’m afraid that I would just be too burned out on it to be as effective with my kids.

Enjoy your time off :-)

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