Keep a positive attitude

Discovering that your child has special needs can be overwhelming – and it is normal to experience denial, anger, guilt, fear, and sadness as you process the changes required for the expectations you had envisioned.

Most importantly – keep a positive attitude.

Apart from the attention your child with special need requires, it is essential that you take care of your mental health, adjust your hopes, and build a support system.

Processing the situation means not judging yourself when you feel angry, confused, or sad. Accept that your child’s diagnosis is not a result of your failures – you’ll notice that your child has unique strengths.

A support group is a place where you’ll find solace – and helpful insights. Share your emotions, your learnings and your fears with your partner and your family so they have a clear picture and don’t imagine the worst. You child’s siblings will need to be kept in the loop too. Here you may need to be cautious and not overburden their young minds.

You will, at times, need professional help. Remember we at Capulum College are qualified to help you. We have trained personnel and we can connect you with private psychologists and therapists. Your wellbeing is your priority.

Focus on one day at a time. What-ifs will bog you down and they may not happen. Keep your attention on all the things your child can do and celebrate small victories. Keeping a hardcopy schedule and structured environments help you remain centred and gives your child a sense of calm. Your child won’t need endless hours of your time, he/she will just need a reliable, consistent, presence.

Protect yourself. You need to take care of your health. This means nutrition, exercise and sleep. You have a challenging journey ahead but with the correct attitude it can be a stimulating and meaningful emotional development.

At times you may need to adopt the 7-7-7 rule. Breath in deeply for 7-seconds; hold your breath for 7-seconds; exhale slowly for 7-seconds.

And there’s another 7-7-7 suggestion. Connect with your child in a meaningful consistent way the first 7-minutes of the morning; 7-minutes when reuniting after school – or perhaps when you get home from work; and 7-minutes at bedtime. These must be undivided seven minutes.