Wednesday, February 2, 2011

A Village

Hillary Clinton said it takes a village to raise a child. That's even more true when you have a special needs child.  We have a case manager, a teacher, paraprofessionals, occupational therapists, physical therapists and speech pathologists to name a few.

But what about us Mamas? Its been hard for me to connect with anyone here in the heavily populated 'burb where I reside. I tried the whinebitchcomplain support group at Boy Wonder's school. It wasn't a good fit. I found my village online. I've been fortunate to have met a few of them in person. This weekend I met even more of them.

It is wonderful to NOT have to explain. To speak in the shorthand of  special needs mama. A sigh, a sentence that doesn't have to be finished because your thoughts and feelings are understood. Compassion without judgment or pity.

We drank and ate. We laughed like lunatics. We shared our stories. We cried and then laughed some more. 

If your village is not in your hometown, look online. Read blogs. Comment. Write your own blog. We're here. To laugh with you, to cry with you, to have some tequila with you, to catch you when it's all too much and we are here to celebrate when your child hits one out of the park.

Come find us. We're waiting. 

9 comments:

  1. Absolutely! It feels really good to be with people who get it. I am so happy to join your village!

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  2. smiles here! I'm gad you're a part of my village now! I needed you in my life!

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  3. This is the perfect analogy, and just what I was thinking about in the shower the other day! It takes a village to raise a child, and a village to keep us autism mommies going. So glad to have met you girl!

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  4. Absofrigginlutely. (Sorry, Jeneil.) ;)

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  5. I had no idea you had a blog, hmmmm.....I will reading from this point forward! Rock on sista!

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  6. (Blogger ate my earlier comment, dammit!)

    I love you. That's all. As you were. xo

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  7. Just found your blog, and I like this post. The real-life support groups weren't for me either, but I'm loving all of these blogs!

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  8. Interesting that you called the local one the "whine-bitch-complain" support group. Years ago I found the support group made me more tired and hopeless. I found a support group online a long time ago and then lost touch with it when an email address changed, etc.

    But I've felt the need again recently and starting seeking out connections with others who have family members on the spectrum.

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  9. Even those of us who slept through a little bit... it was everything I needed and so much more.

    Love you, Sister.

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