My Special Needs Daughter

We all love our children and they are all special and a gift sent to us by God. I would like to share one of those gifts with everyone, and that is my daughter who happens to have special needs. Her birthday is next month and thinking about her turning 27 has me wondering where have all of those years gone?

At the age of two my daughter had e-coli, which resulted into hemolytic uremic syndrome. My daughter is mentally challenged but she understands her limits, yet others may not.

To the average person she looks like a normal young adult, but her symptoms tend to be more 'childlike', which makes her so much more special. I was warned about how others will expect her to act her age and not understand, not even professionals such as specialists, teachers, etc. Well, that was true, family members have even claimed that she is just a spoiled brat, not really understanding that her behaviors have nothing to do with being spoiled.

Even within the school system. I finally had to take her out of school when she was in the fourth grade. I was tired of her being a burden to the teachers, and also she herself was feeling left out in the classroom. Plus there were times that she left the school building, and the teachers didn't even notice that she was missing. Once I went to pick her up and found out she was not even there. To top that off the child advocate tried to protect themselves by motioning to one of their other advocates to keep her mouth shut, when she was on the verge of telling me how long my daughter wasn't there.

Wow! Instead of protecting the child she was protecting their reputation, which had me believing that she wasn't in a safe environment. Also the kids at school were extremely mean to her. I am aware they were kids too, yet it still didn't make it right. She was hurt both physically and emotionally. With so much turmoil I wasn't sure what I should do? I fell down on my knees and cried out to God!

Psalm 34:17

The righteous cry, and the LORD hears And delivers them out of all their troubles.

I decided to homeschool my daughter. I wasn't sure if that was the best decision (at that time) to make but it did help her self esteem, because she no longer had a problem of thinking that people were making fun of her. She sometimes thinks that even her own family was making fun of her. I knew for sure that she was not in the right environment. These people (family members or public school) did not have her best interest at heart. The school system may work for some, but not for my Angel.

Home schooling was really difficult for me, I didn't always have the kind of patience that one should. That is why you would think that instead of the school system placing special needs children with all the other children being the norm, that they would have created a system where special needs people go in a safe space. Sent to someone that had the knowledge and understanding to work with children and/or adults that have 'childlike behaviors' like my daughter, not just throwing them in a classroom where the teacher themselves had no tolerance for students like her.

But as hard as it was at times to teach her these lessons, I continued to do so. I found that picking some subjects vs. others held her attention, which personally worked better for her. For example; she loved animals so I would incorporate animals into her schooling. When her eldest brother comes to visit from California he says he is astonished on the facts she gives him in regards to animals as far as extinction, exact amount of certain species alive, etc.

She still has a deep love and involvement with various animals, she writes a lot of facts about them, and at the same time it helps her with her reading and writing skills. They also have curriculums that cover most subjects like math, English, reading, and writing. You just have to make it fun so that they will take an interest.

I also got her involved as an adult today within a College For Life program, a program that deals with special needs adults, but unfortunately now that is up in the air. Why? Because there is no funding for it any longer, and most of the people who went there were way older than my daughter, but she still liked going and being with other people.

I just wish there was something where they can connect with others closer in age, or at least the mental age they can sometimes display due to their special needs. I did try to get the local recreation center to see this, but they stated that there wasn't enough people who are interested in something of that nature.

I had a fall out with one of the employees there because we just couldn't see eye to eye on the subject of my daughter. But this is to be expected when they don't have special needs children of their own. They really don't understand, or even care to understand for that matter.

I have to admit that being a single parent to a special needs child can be pretty lonely at times for the parent who is the one taking care of a child with limitations, also because you feel like you are alone in this situation, without any emotional support from others. At least this is how I felt from time to time.

I am the soul parent who has stuck by her no matter what issues may arise. And I plan on it until death do us part. That is unless the Lord has a better plan, it will have to be in her very best interest of course.

Matthew 19:14

But Jesus said, "Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children."

My daughter has taught me what it is like to be childlike. She doesn't let things bother her like so many of us adults tend to do. She is so forgiving, she is very honest (sometimes to a fault), but yet her honesty can either be shocking or even touching.

My daughter is so kind to others and very loving. Perhaps not so much outwardly with affection but by her good deeds, she shows love to those she loves. I have learned that the Lord calls us all to do the same, to be childlike the way my daughter is. And I also know she already has the most magical place in heaven waiting just for her.

After my 1st born was created, and my second son 16 years later. I had to wait 17 years to have my one and only daughter. Out of my three children my daughter is still with me and I love every minute of her being a main part of my life on earth.

Luke 11: 9-10

11:9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

11:10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened