I have to say that the last week spent with my oldest alone has been so eye-opening. As a mom of a child with disabilities and facing life’s other challenges, you forget what it feels like to just do a store run without rushing to get it done in 15 minutes; you forget what it feels like to walk into a workout without feeling tired before you even start; you forget what it feels like to sit back, put on a mindless show, and get so caught up in it that you suddenly find yourself four episodes in.
Respite is so important for your body and mind; it fuels your soul and helps you reconnect with the person you were before things became complicated. Many times, we all want to give up and just do what we know, hoping we’ll be okay, and some of us feel we don’t have a choice. That’s why getting the word out about what respite (in terms of any break) is and what it does for our mental state is so important. We need to be there and show up for our kids and for those we love and we can’t do it alone.
– Thank you to my wonderful respite providers and husband for making this trip happen. I wouldn’t be able to support and be there for my daughter otherwise.