A mother raising a child with a disability or special needs can experience a wide range of emotions, often on a daily basis. These emotions can be complex and vary depending on the individual circumstances, the nature of the child’s disability, and the mother’s personal experiences and coping mechanisms.
Here are some of the emotions a mother might go through:
1. Love and Devotion:
Mothers typically feel a deep sense of love and devotion towards their child, regardless of their disabilities or special needs. This love can drive them to provide the best care and support possible.
2. Guilt:
Mothers might experience guilt for feeling overwhelmed or needing a break, even though they are doing their best. They might also feel guilty for not being able to “fix” their child’s condition.
3. Joy and Happiness:
Moments of progress, achievement, and happiness experienced by the child can bring immense joy and pride to the mother.
4. Frustration:
The challenges of caregiving and dealing with various aspects of the disability can lead to frustration, especially when faced with limitations in resources, support, or the child’s progress.
5. Sadness and Grief:
Mothers might grieve the loss of the “typical” child they had envisioned and the challenges that their child may face. They might also grieve societal expectations and the extra hurdles their child has to overcome.
6. Purpose, Empowerment and Advocacy:
Many mothers become strong advocates for their child’s needs, pushing for appropriate awareness, services, education, and support. This can lead to feelings of empowerment and purpose.
7. Anxiety and Worry:
Concerns about the child’s future, health, education, and overall well-being can lead to persistent anxiety and worry.
8. Isolation and Loneliness:
Mothers may feel isolated because of the unique challenges they face. They might struggle to connect with parents of typically developing children or feel isolated due to their child’s limitations.
9. Hope and Optimism:
Even amidst challenges, mothers often maintain a sense of hope and optimism for their child’s growth and progress.
10. Exhaustion:
The demands of caregiving can lead to physical and emotional exhaustion, especially if the child requires constant attention or specialized care.
11. Pride and Resilience:
Mothers often take pride in their child’s accomplishments, no matter how small, and their own resilience in navigating the difficulties they encounter.
12. Anger:
Dealing with the system, societal misconceptions, and the child’s struggles can lead to feelings of anger and frustration.
13. Confusion and Uncertainty:
Navigating medical terms, therapies, and services can be confusing and overwhelming, leading to feelings of uncertainty.
14. Appreciation for Small Moments:
Mothers may develop a deep appreciation for small moments and achievements that might be taken for granted in other circumstances.
15. Jealousy and Envy:
Seeing other families with typically developing children might evoke feelings of jealousy or envy, as mothers compare their situations.
16. Acceptance and Growth:
Over time, many mothers reach a level of acceptance regarding their child’s condition and focus on their own personal growth through the experience.
It’s important to note that every mother’s experience is unique, and she might not necessarily go through all these emotions. Support from family, friends, support groups, and mental health professionals can play a crucial role in helping mothers navigate these complex emotions.
The most important thing to remember is that it’s okay to go through all these emotions.
Join our Enabled Mom Community to get access to our course, The Emotional Rollercoaster of a Special Needs Mom, where we cover all these emotions in detail! Click here to join
