Your Friend Is a Special Needs Parent? Here's How You Can Support Them.
Supporting a friend who has a child with a disability requires empathy, understanding, and patience. It's a journey that demands sensitivity and a willingness to adapt. Today, I wanted to share five practical tips on how you can provide meaningful support to your friend and their child, along with some general advice for navigating this journey together.
Educate Yourself:
One of the most crucial ways to support your friend is by educating yourself about their child's specific disability. Understanding the challenges they face, the treatments available, and the resources at their disposal can help you provide more informed support. Whether through reading materials, online resources, or conversations with your friend, take the initiative to learn and gain insight into their world.
Offer Practical Help:
Practical assistance can make a significant difference in your friend's life. Offer to babysit their child to give them a much-needed break, help with household chores, run errands, or accompany them to medical appointments and therapy sessions. Even small gestures like preparing a meal or picking up groceries can alleviate some of the daily stressors they face. Some of the best help we have ever received was when our older kiddos were taken on play dates or to the park for an hour or two. If your friend has other children, chances are they would really appreciate the help with them!
Listen and Be Supportive:
Sometimes, your friend may simply need someone to listen without judgment or offering solutions. Be there to lend a sympathetic ear and offer emotional support. Validate their experiences, acknowledge their feelings, and assure them that you're there for them whenever they need to talk or vent. Please do not say “I would do this…” Or “what about your other kids, how will this impact them…” We carry a lot of worries around with us daily, and the thing we need most is someone to listen and support, not someone who is judging and offering solutions they think we need. It's best, unless asked, to just listen.
Be Inclusive:
Inclusion is key to supporting your friend and their child, especially as the child grows up. Invite them to social activities and gatherings, and be willing to make accommodations to ensure everyone can participate comfortably. We still want to be invited to things, even if we decide not to go. The invite is always appreciated. Avoid excluding them out of discomfort or uncertainty, and strive to create an environment where they feel accepted and valued.
Respect Their Parenting Choices:
Respect your friend's parenting decisions, as they know their child's needs best. It’s best to avoid criticizing or second-guessing their decisions, and instead offer encouragement and praise for their efforts. Be a source of positive reinforcement and validation, and refrain from adding to any feelings of doubt or guilt they may experience. We feel that enough on our own, we don’t need it from our friends and family too.
Supporting a friend who has a child with a disability is a journey that requires a lot of compassion and support. By educating yourself, offering practical help, listening empathetically, promoting inclusivity, and respecting their parenting choices, you can make a meaningful difference in their lives. In addition to these tips, here are some general pieces of advice for supporting a friend who has a child with a disability:
Be patient and understanding, as caring for a child with a disability is oftentimes emotionally and physically draining.
Offer your friendship and support consistently, even when your friend may not actively seek it.
Don't hesitate to ask your friend how you can best support them, as their needs may change over time.
Remember, your support and understanding are invaluable gifts that can provide comfort and strength to those friends during challenging times.
Are you raising a child with a disability? What tips or advice would you give to those who are looking to support a friend? I would love for you to share below!
Feel free to share this blog post with those loved ones who need it:
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I am rooting for you! ~ Sara
Special Needs Moms, Self-Care for Parents, Parenting with Special Needs, Wellness for Mothers, Support for Special Needs Moms, Balancing Parenthood, Self-Compassion, Respite for Moms, Special Needs Parenting Tips, Prioritizing Health
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