The author reflects on her experiences as a disabled parent, emphasizing the unexpected ease she found in adjusting to motherhood compared to her peers. She highlights the significant role of support networks for new parents. Through informal interviews with various parents, both disabled and nondisabled, she identifies common themes in their struggles, shedding light on how resilience often stems from unique experiences. The article aims to advocate for the shared insights of disabled parents and how their perspectives can enhance the parenting experience for everyone.
When my daughter was a few months old, I joined a group for new moms. I was an unusual parent within that group. Unlike the other moms, I hadn't given birth.
I've begun to suspect, however, that my experience adjusting to parenthood wasn't unique among disabled people. My experience was relatively peaceful.
Over the past few years, I've interviewed dozens of disabled and nondisabled parents from various racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds, identifying common struggles.
Throughout my interviews, I found that many disabled parents drew upon their unique experiences to offer valuable perspectives on resilience and adaptability in parenting.
#disabled-parenting #support-networks #parenting-challenges #resilience-in-caregiving #personal-experiences
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