Being a parent is tough enough, being a parent caring for a child or young person with a disability and/ or special educational needs can be a huge challenge to say the least. Having a support network is paramount to maintaining a state of wellbeing, but that is not often possible.
What if I suggested that you put your needs first before those of your child?
Your life as a parent/carer for a child with a disability can often be overwhelming with appointment after appointment, week in and week out. Your life as you knew it changes so dramatically because your main concern is for your child and that’s how it’s supposed to be.
That’s normal because I felt the same way too until I adopted ‘The Oxygen Mask Rule’.
Flight attendants always remind parents that if the airplane cabin loses pressure, you should apply your oxygen mask first, and then your child’s.
What kind of emotions would that provoke?
Guilt? That is why I started up this monthly project, to remind us that we need to take care of ourselves as well as our special children. The project works as a 3-hour respite meet-up, where parents and carers socialise, relax and unwind in a room adjacent to a specialised creche—so we can have three invaluable hours to ourselves.
If P.A.C.E is anything, it is hub of warmth and peaceful sharing, I would recommend all parents with our children’s additional needs in common, to join us.
- Nikkie Hall
They say it takes a village to raise a child...but for parents like me, it takes a city to support a child with special needs and their families.
-Julie Voong
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