Mom Delphine Rule on the Importance of Advocating for Your Neurodiverse Child at School
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Overview: In this episode, I talk with mom Delphine Rule on why and how parents should advocate for their out-of-the-box kids in a public school setting.
Excerpt #1: "All of our beautiful children who are outside-of-the-box thinkers and do things in a different way have so many gifts to provide us. But I think we get hijacked by looking at a very narrow tunnel of what they can't do versus the broad spectrum of what they can do, and how that can support what they can't do." This is such a telling statement. In our society, we limit our thinking around people with special or extra needs. We automatically see what they can’t do instead of what they can. As moms, it helps us to advocate for our kids if we already have knowledge of our children’s strengths and gifts.
Excerpt #2: "Every day you need to find that one thing that was good. Because there will be a lot of negative, right? I've got heaps of stories about me coming and crying and just...swearing up a blue streak and wanting to just say, 'That's it, I'm done, I don't want to be a mom anymore. I'm finished. I'm not cut out for this.I'm done.' But we can't." As moms of out-of-the-box kids, we can resonate with this quote more than anyone. The days are so, so long and hard. Finding something good in each day can sometimes seem - patronizing. But truly, if we can focus our heads around one tiny positive thing, it will honestly help our mindset.
Excerpt #3: "...and I'm kind of noticing at home that they're losing things, or it takes us forever to get out the door because we can't - whatever it is. Or they don't want to read; they refuse to read with me. Or they have high emotions. The place to start is with the doctor because that allows the doctor to say, 'Well, maybe we need to look at this,' or 'Maybe we could do this,'. But also as a parent, I think the biggest thing I want to say (or that I feel like needs to be said) is that you need to unconditionally love your child." So, so important. And we do, right? Of course we unconditionally love our kids. But…sometimes our actions don’t match our heart. This was a great reminder for me to hear, and maybe you as well.
Your turn: How do you advocate for your neurodiverse child? DM me on Instagram @on.the.hard.days and share your thoughts with me! You are a rockstar, Mama!