This post is inspired by the comments I got on yesterday's guilt trip. In the wise words of Lisa, "You really shouldn't have to explain Max's story (unless you want to) any more than you should have to explain why he has brown hair."
Lisa got me thinking about a Bill of Rights we, as parents of kids with special needs, are entitled to. I'll start it—please add your "amendments" in comments, and I will put the whole thing together and re-post it. Then we can all print it out, stick it on the fridge and live by it! Or something like that.
A BILL OF RIGHTS FOR PARENTS OF KIDS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
* We have a right to ignore the remarks, questions and stares and not give explanations or excuses for why our kids are the way they are.
* We have a right to trust our instincts about our kids and realize that experts don't always know best.
* We have a right to fire any doctor or therapist who's negative, unsupportive or who generally says suck-y things.
* We have a right to blast Bruce Springsteen, down a glass of Pinot Grigio, get a pedicure, go out with the girls or do all of the aforementioned at once if that's what it takes to avoid burnout.
* We have a right to play aimlessly with our children—not for therapeutic or educational purposes. Just for fun.
* We have a right to insist that our kids are included in activities.
* We have a right to demand that our husbands bear equal responsibility. Or at least change diapers.
* We have a right to wish that sometimes things could be easier.
* We have a right to have yet more Pinot Grigio.
* We have a right to get tired of people saying, as they give that sympathy stare, "I don't know how you do it."
* We have a right to cheer like crazy in public anytime our children amaze us.
* We have a right to push, push and push some more to make sure our children are treated fairly by the world.
Photo from istock
