Our children grow up and carry with them the scars from the words spoken over them. No matter how mindful we are of this, how carefully we choose our words, our soon-to-be adult children will still need Jesus, His perspective and His healing balm for restoration. Even so, we do need to be oh so mindful! 

As parents of children with hidden disabilities, or really as parents of any child, we are not parenting behaviors— we are shepherding little hearts. Empathy and compassion come before correction and instruction. Even now, my 28-year-old is helping me to understand the impact of my own words on her, words I felt at the time needed to be spoken, but words that could have been spoken after recognition and acknowledgment of her very valid feelings. Her inability to process or choose appropriate behaviors at the time did not invalidate her feelings as a child! 

Today a friend mentioned needing to house a family member for a season to relieve his parents from incessant triggering. There can be constant volatility when a teen is struggling with ADHD and perhaps other undiagnosed co-morbidities. The messaging behind “getting him out of the house” will need to be conveyed carefully.

​Just like a gifted photographer gets to choose to focus on the petals of the wildflower rather than on the necessary drainage ditch three feet away, as parents we get to choose where we direct attention. We can highlight what is true in ways our children see their value, despite the challenges they face. 

This boy has needs. His needs can be better accommodated for a season with fewer people around. The reprieve offers more space for his parents to pursue a better understanding of how he can be best accommodated for his future success. The message our children need to hear the loudest trumpets their value, whether as our babies or as the children of God.​

​What I learned from my experiences and what I want to share with you is this: Your friends and family most likely won’t understand what you’re dealing with, at least not initially.

Eventually you will become an effective advocate for the challenges your child faces. But, first you must find your tribe.  

Your tribe are those who have gone before you and triumphed, while maintaining a positive and hopeful outlook.

Seek those parents and supporting voices who can speak into your life who share your values, and appreciate your children as they are, their non-typical beautiful selves.

It's not always easy to find those voices in our neighborhoods or even in our churches. 

We live in an electronically connected world today, giving us great advantages over parents facing the same challenges twenty years ago. Hashtags and Google searches can heart connect us with others who walk the same path.

​Don’t discount the power of online resources and relationships! 

An online community that understands the challenges faced by children who are not neuro-typical can stand aligned with you as you rejoice in your child’s abilities while acknowledging the unique challenges you are facing.

​I addressed a group of mothers raising children with autism in Havana, Cuba this week. I offered the love of God, and some basic affirming truths taken from Scripture. I shared that even when medical questions are answered, we may still have spiritual questions.

One woman had tears streaming down her face as I spoke. 

A man who doesn't know God approached me afterwards, hungry for more. 

There is a bond between parents who have faced similar challenges. We understand each other's pain. Isolation alienates, and robs us of hope. The reassurance of "Me too!" is a universal experience that bridges between cultures. 

And Kingdom culture dictates that we do everything in our power, even travel to far reaches, to offer the comfort of our shared stories and the Light of the Savior of the world. 

Go bridge some gaps in your world. Your experiences, failures and triumphs, put you in good company with others who are also committed to overcoming. Hearing from you makes their journey a little less difficult through connections that bring hope. 

Create for yourself an imaginary godly audience who watches your interactions, and who wants only the best for you. I’m not proposing a galley of condemning stone throwers, rather, the voices of wisdom who speak into your life encouragingly. We are our own reality show before a great cloud of witnesses!

One day, those babies will be grown and able to process through not only their own behaviors, but also yours. Keep your behaviors pointing to a loving, grace filled God who also remains committed to standards of right and wrong. He is standing by to be your ever present help in time of need! ​

I was startled by my daughter’s comment. I reflected on the parents I have met raising children with Down’s syndrome. Not once has the word “selfish” ever occurred to me in describing those parents. But I also can only remember those parents telling me excitedly about milestones their child had achieved, or difficulties their child was facing. Perhaps these parents were “me focused” when they started their journeys, but now, their devotion and commitment were enviable character traits that causes casual onlookers like myself to drop to our knees admitting we are not worthy in comparison.

Out of curiosity, I had my 23 year old daughter with hidden disabilities read the post and share with me her insights. “I think this mother is selfish,” was my daughter’s first observation. “She thinks raising this child is about her, but it isn’t.” I saw pain in her expression.

At first, navigating the unrighteous judgments leveled against us as parents raising children with hidden disabilities (including accusations of selfishness) can knock us off balance. We are still fighting our own internal vows about child raising, what medicinal intervention, nutrition and accountability will look like in our homes. Our own blame-based behavior models may still be intact, not fully grasping the impact neurology has upon our challenging child. But once we topple those idols in our minds, we enter the maturation fast lane. It’s no longer about us, our ideals, or the impression our parenting (or even our advocacy efforts) make on another. 

Our focus shifts to our child whose struggles may impact them for a lifetime.

• What language choices empower my child the best? 
• How can I shield my child from unrighteous judgements? 
• How can we, as parents, use our own transparency, honestly and vulnerability to both protect and advocate for our child? 
• How can we obtain the best interventions in spite of our limitations? 
  

The day will come when our children grow up and read everything we wrote about how difficult it was to raise them. They already fight self loathing and feelings of worthlessness; after all, according to the other voices in their lives, they do not measure up.

I believe her intent was to offer empathy to other struggling parents who are indeed impacted by raising children who present profound challenges to entire families who struggle to cope with the demands. The fact that in her own need, she is willing to invest in the lives of other parents tells me she is focused on others, in addition to her children, and not on herself.

But additionally, I will take my daughter’s comment to heart, remembering that I am here to teach my children that they are worth every ounce of effort expended on their behalves. It’s not about me, no matter how much raising my children with hidden disabilities impacts me. 

A safe gathering place of friends who understand