The baby and toddler years are hard. Very few people will dispute that.
Most of us admit to a little relief when our little darlings can feed themselves, take themselves off to the toilet, play quietly in their room, get themselves out of the bath and, most blissful of all, when they can get themselves some breakfast and play quietly on a Sunday morning instead of insisting on waking everyone up at 6am!
As much as we love and adore them we all look forward to things getting easier.
Our children grow and life changes. Some things get easier and others get harder for a while, then those things get easier and new challenges take their place.
Till eventually our sweet darlings become wonderful young adults and we swell with pride at them whilst also worrying whether they are getting enough sleep, driving carefully or eating properly. 🙂 Parenting never really ends, does it?
For many though, that statement means so much more.
Ten years on and I still have to do all the same things I did when he was tiny. Yet he is now only just a foot shorter than I am, but with the outlook of a toddler.
He needs me to hoist him from his bed every day.
He needs me to take him to the toilet.
He needs me to help wash his hands.
He needs me to help feed him.
He needs me to clean his teeth.
He needs me to help him play.
He needs a huge amount of support to achieve things.
He needs me to amuse him for hours on end.
He needs me to put him in the car and secure his wheelchair.
He needs me to repeatedly have the same conversations over and over.
He needs to know what I am doing.
He needs me to guess what he needs when he is unhappy and can’t tell me.
He needs me to do his physiotherapy exercises.
And most of those needs happen whilst he is battling against me like a strong-willed three year old!
He needs a parent with endless patience.
He needs a parent with endless energy.
Sometimes I fear that he needs more than I am.
It took at least 8 years to admit to myself that my son is disabled. It took longer still to be able to say it out loud to other people. And I have only recently, 10 years on, been able to admit that I am also his carer.
If anything, it is harder to identify times when I am just his parent.
But being his mum is the best and most important role I have in his life.
You are an amazing mum. I stand in awe.
Sending hugs xx
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We get through each day, somehow.
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You sound like an amazing mum and he sounds such a lucky boy to have you. I have two toddlers and I am the first to admit they drive me mad and I need a break from them often. I love the last line of this post as it is so very true xx
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Thanks. Some days it is a struggle. Some days it feels like I had a baby for two years then I have had the same toddler for 8! He is also the most awesome boy at the same time though.
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You are an amazing Mum. I can only imagine the struggles you face in daily life. You have such a lovely boy, motherhood is just the best 🙂
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It certainly is. ❤️
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Ah, how lovely. As a mum with one son who has aspergers and another who suffers from anxiety, I get this, to a point. You are doing an amazing job and your little boy is very lucky to have you!
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It is hard some days.x
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Being a parent on its own is hard enough. You have that bit of extra special on top!
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Thank you. Some days are exhausting.x
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It must be so tough sometimes, we all love our kids but you have a lot more on your plate than most! I hope you get time to have a break occasionally.
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Any free time I do get often happens in the wee small hours and I usually spend that writing letters and e-mails to try to plead with businesses and local councils to enable us to lead full lives. Parent, carer, teacher, advocate…
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You are amazing. Such a wonderful mum that’s for sure! I can’t imagine what you go through daily as I go through not even a fraction of it.
Jordanne ||Thelifeofaglasgowgirl.co.uk
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Thank you. This is just my everyday and most of the time I am too busy to even think about it but some days it is overwhelming.x
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You are amazing. I am sure it is exhausting and has it’s very hard days. You can see your love, care and patience (more than you may admit-you are amazing!) in your posts. Great job. #KCACOLS
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“Sometimes I fear he needs more than I am”
I don’t think you recognise how incredibly strong you are. #KCACOLS
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Thank you. He has the same wishes to do things that other small boys have and I am just one person trying to do so many things. I do the best I can though.
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You truly are amazing. You are doing an amazing job with your son, and your love for him really shines through. I’m sending you a big blogger hug!
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Gratefully received!
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You are truly a saint and your boy looks so happy in these photos. Well done, I’m in awe of you xx
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Some days I am a grumpy mess! Thank you for your kind words though.x
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Who isn’t? That means you are normal and sane !
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Two things I don’t often get called!
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You are so incredible. He will never need more than you are! He is so lucky to have you as a mum. What gorgeous family photos. xx
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Thank you. We do our best.x
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What an amazing mum you are. Your photos are lovely, he looks like a very happy boy. You are clearly doing a great job 😉
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I think that just the very fact you wrote this post means you are a better mum than you are giving yourself credit for.
Thanks so much for linking up at #KCACOLS. Hope you come back again next Sunday
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Thank you. Those were very kind words.x
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Beautiful post. You are truly amazing and very strong. Your son looks very happy and I suspect it’s all thanks to you. Thanks so much for linking up at #KCACOLS. Hope you come back again next Sunday x
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As the mother of 2 disabled young people I can identify with everything you are saying. My kids are slowly becoming independent, but it’s been (& probably will continue to be) a fight to get the support they need. I too have to remind myself to be mum….. even if that does mean they tell me I’m a nag! Lol!
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