How To!
How To Cope With Forever Parenting
Oct 22, 2024
Sarah Wayland, founder of Guiding Exceptional Parents and mother to two autistic young men, shares her profound insights on the emotional challenges faced by parents of adult children with autism. She discusses navigating the complexities of independence while managing caregiver emotions like grief and jealousy. Emphasizing the importance of community support, Sarah offers coping strategies and lobbies for systemic changes in care services. Listeners will find inspiration in her advocacy for shared experiences and the delicate balance of planning for the future.
44:26
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Quick takeaways
- Parents of children with special needs often navigate profound emotional grief and jealousy while seeking support from their community.
- Accessing adult services for disabled children can be overwhelming; parents are encouraged to plan thoughtfully and seek collective resources.
Deep dives
The Challenge of Non-Traditional Empty Nesting
Navigating the transition to an empty nest can be particularly challenging for parents of children with special needs. One mother, grappling with the reality that her 21-year-old daughter, who has severe autism, is aging out of the school system, expresses feelings of loneliness and concern. Unlike her friends, who will experience newfound freedom, she faces the daunting task of lifelong caregiving while simultaneously dealing with feelings of loss and longing for normalcy. This situation highlights the emotional conflict many parents experience as they transition into new life phases that do not align with societal norms.
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