The Three Friends That Every Parent of a Child With Special Needs Requires

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three-friendsI am a lot of things: daughter, sister, wife, social worker, author, and mother to two boys. Becoming a mother to a child with autism changed me in a million different ways, mostly for the better. For almost a decade, I have struggled to be the best parent I can for my son and to help support him in being successful, as well as be there for my other son. I don’t always balance it well, but I always try.

As parents and caregivers to children with special needs, we are all experiencing this journey in a different way. What works for my family might not work for yours. While our experiences may be different, we all have one thing in common: We all need a strong support system. When I first became a parent to a special needs child, I thought back to the training as a social work student that I got in college. I learned how to help clients measure if they were plugged into their environment (i.e., belong to groups, clubs, church, etc.) and if they felt supported. It’s a really important exercise because there is a strong correlation between a strong support system and a happy/contented individual.

Our experiences may be different, but we all need a strong support system.

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Take a moment to ask yourself these questions:

Do you get as much as you give out to the world around you?

Do you feel supported or pulled in several different directions?

Whether your child has autism, ADD, ADHD, or any other special needs diagnosis, you need support. You need help. Have you ever seen the movie, “28 days,” with Sandra Bullock? She is in rehab for drug and alcohol abuse and, as part of her treatment, she is forced to wear a sign around her neck that says, “Confront me if I don’t ask for help.” Consider this my reminder to you to ask for help, plug into the world around you, and make lasting connections with people who support you.

I could write a book about all the ways to do this but, for today, I just want to tell you about three types of friends. These are the ones who can help support you during these challenging times spent raising special needs kids, and having them saved my sanity.

  1. The ‘Been There, Done That’ Friend

This is the friend who has a child or multiple children with special needs who are older than your child. This is the friend who knows the ropes for getting services from your state or the school system, the best therapy places, and the tips and tricks to get your insurance to pay for stuff. This friend will help you learn the language that will make you an effective advocate for your child. They are also the one that gives you hope that things might get better. Hope is important.

My best friend has been instrumental in helping me learn about all the services that are out there. She validates my experience, offers a shoulder for me to cry on, and normalizes the feelings and emotions that come up. This is a vital friend to have!

  1. The ‘Same Stage’ Friend

This friend has a special needs kid who is the same age and/or gender as your own. This is the friend who is struggling with the same or similar struggles that you are, and they aren’t going to judge you or your kid when they do something that is considered socially unexcitable. This may be a mom, dad, or grandma that you met at a meeting, in a therapy waiting room, or in an online group. I have a few friends that fit this mold. We discuss things like problems with teachers, school districts, and insurance. You may not cry on their shoulders, but they wouldn’t bat an eye if you did. They get it! No judgement; just support.

These are the best kinds of friends to ask for ideas to problem-solve the newest challenge you and your child might be going through. They let you know about the free baseball games for children with autism or the autism-friendly restaurants or businesses. They know that doing simple things like getting a haircut or going to the dentist can be a scary prospect, and that having a plan with a good place to go ahead of time makes a world of difference.

  1. The Ally

This is the friend who loves you and your kid as is, even though they don’t have a child with special needs. This is the best friend of all of them to have, because their kids are often understanding and cool to your kid, too. This is the family that shows up to your kid’s birthday party when all of the classmates that were invited didn’t come. This friend does playdates on a regular basis.

I am very blessed to have a few friends who fit this bill. They are my coffee buddies and my weekly playdate: my make-me-laugh friends. Their same-age, neurotypical child also helps me to see what behaviors and issues are just “normal” age-related things, and not anything associated with my son’s diagnosis. The “ally” is the friend who kidnaps me and takes me out for a drink or a cup of coffee. I love this friend.

Easier Said Than Done

It is very hard to build up a support system. It takes time and, yes, energy to cultivate these relationships. It hasn’t been easy for me, but it has been so rewarding and worth it in the end. The important thing to remember is to step outside of your world and talk to other people as much as you can, even if it is just over the Internet. Though do try and get out of the house as often as you can, too!

Remember that you are important and need to be cared for. Don’t give up trying to find ways to care for yourself, as well as your child.

K.M. Hodge

Founder at The Land of Hodge
K.M. Hodge lives in Texas with her husband and two energetic boys, and enjoys writing tales of suspense and intrigue that keep her readers up all night. Her stories, which focus on women’s issues, friendship, addiction, regrets and second chances, will stay with you long after you finish them. When she isn’t writing or being an agent of social change, she reads independent graphic novels, watches old “X-Files” episodes, streams Detroit Tigers games, and binges on Netflix with her husband.

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