In order to provide care for others, one must provide care for themself first...

I wanted to take a few steps back and address questions I have posed at the beginning of my research:



 "How do families meet the needs of their child with a disability?"

 "How must the family  adapt and accommodate to meet their child's needs?"

My findings from a recent article helped me to answer these questions. A parent can only meet the needs of their children, if they first meet their own needs. Self-care is one of the most effective strategies for parents  to deal with stress and meet the needs of their child.
Below, I have included excerpts from the article that helped me to identify how parents can better meet the needs of their children:



http://www.disaboom.com/children-with-disabilities/self-care-why-parents-of-children-with-disabilities-must-nurture-themselves


Parents of children with disabilities are more likely to experience major life events, including divorce, surgeries, and frequent moves. They are also more likely to experience a greater number of daily hassles compared to parents of typical children. Parenting daily hassles are defined as the ongoing, repetitive, and difficult, but necessary, tasks that must be performed to adequately nurture a child. Daily hassles, like challenging bed-time routines and medication disbursement, often become a source of cumulative stress. This stress compounded with major life events can lead to trouble for parents and children with special needs. Marriages, mental health, and healthy home environments are at risk.

There’s no single remedy to decrease the pressure and stress associated with caring for a child with a disability. Self-care, however, is the most effective way to reduce caregiver burnout and create a nurturing, loving environment. Parents who identify and meet their own needs model to their children what it means to value their bodies, minds, and souls. Constantly facing limits in time and resources, many parents are tempted to regularly sacrifice their own needs in an attempt to prioritize their child’s. This strategy results in a failure to fully meet anyone’s needs.

Self-care offers another lesser-known benefit that is highly prized by parents of all children: a natural energy boost! Recognizing the full spectrum of one’s needs and taking action to meet them offers a new surge of energy to tackle life’s tasks with a more open and clear mind. Parents who make a plan and meet their own needs before deficits strike will also be better equipped to recognize the unmet needs of their children.