Being a mom is hard work. This is true whether you are a mom with a spouse or partner, or if you are a mom by herself. If your child has a special need, then your efforts at being a good mom are going to be that much more intensive. You are not alone, however. There are quite a few celebrities who are the parents of children who have special needs.
There are going to be times when a mom feels like she is all alone in her struggles. This type of feeling can occur when your child is having a meltdown in the middle of a grocery store that is packed with people who do not understand why your child is so upset. A mom might feel alone as she sits with her extremely sick child in the ER or the hospital, waiting for treatment. Mom’s of children who have special needs could be facing battles with their child’s school personnel that moms of kids who do not have special needs never have to deal with.
One of the ways that moms can cope with the stress of being a parent is to reach out for help. It’s a good idea to build a support system for yourself of friends, family members, and even counselors, that can help pick you up when you are falling down. Another way to ease some stress might be to realize that you, the mom of a child who has special needs, are not alone. There are many celebrities who are the parents of children who have special needs, too.
Sarah Palin recently praised parent’s of children who have special needs in a speech she gave in Alabama. If you set aside whatever thoughts you have of her political opinions, you will see a mother of a child who has down syndrome. Her son, Trig, is her fifth child. In her speech, she called Trig “a blessing”, and noted that his spirit and courage were examples to the rest of her family.
Actress Jenny McCarthy is the mother of a son, named Evan, who was diagnosed with autism. She has written more than one book about her experiences, and she emphasizes that parents should not feel guilty about their child’s diagnosis of autism. She is very involved with Generation Rescue.
Grammy Award-winner Toni Braxton is the mother of two children, one of whom has autism. She is involved with the group Autism Speaks, and has recently been named a national celebrity spokesperson for the organization. Toni Braxton’s son, Diesel, is eight years old. He was diagnosed with autism very early, which she feels has helped his condition to improve. She recently did an interview with OK! Magazine where she talked about some of the difficulties her family struggled with.
Image by Shirley Binn on Flickr