Let Go!

Children, disabled or not, want to live life on their terms. This often requires us, as parents or caregivers, to step outside of our comfort zone and allow our children to explore and take calculated risks. It’s necessary to allow children the chance to grow through experience and sometimes failure. Stressors of raising a child are often amplified for parents or caregivers of children with disabilities.

We often second-guess ourselves. Will my child be safe? Will my child be accepted as they are? Will my child have fun? Will my child need accommodations that aren’t provided? Will my child be allowed to take part if modifications are needed? Am I making a political statement, or do I have my child’s best interest at heart? 

Regardless of our concerns, there comes a point where we must let go and get out of the way! We must give our children the ability to grow and expand their opportunities for growth. It may not be easy, but with planning, it is achievable. 

Of course, it’s good to plan and advocate for your child, but standing in the way can be detrimental to growth. It can also limit their opportunities to:

• Define their preferences 
• Dream 
• Build a sense of self-confidence
• Practice self-determination 
• Experience self-discovery, excitement and joy

All life experiences come with some form of risk. We parents must get out of the way and allow for those necessary risks. As we work on accepting risk for our children, Person-Centered Thinking can be a helpful framework.