Encouraging Independence In A Disabled Person's Life

Independence Is A Big Part Of Everyone's Life

Independence is an important part of everyone's life. Think of children, their parents start off their life from the time they were a child into being a teenager teaching them how to do different tasks that they are going to need in life. And then what? Do you follow them into adulthood? No, you taught them and now it is time for them to be independent, but how do you encourage independence in a disabled person's life? 

Kids Need To Struggle

One of the hardest things for a parent is having to watch their child struggle, but let me tell you something. It's good for kids to struggle even if they do have disabilities. I can't even imagine what it would have felt like to be in my parent's shoes and watching my child struggle in the ways I have. I bet it was really hard, but out of everything they did for me by taking me from doctor to doctor, the countless hours they spent doing research, and spending god only knows how long in the hospital; the biggest thing I want to thank them for is never stepping in and doing a challenging task for me. I am thankful that even though I'm sure they wanted to about a million times I am glad that they gave me the opportunity to figure it out on my own. Without going through the struggles that I did with all my brain surgeries, pushing through the pain to learn how to do everything again after each surgery, and finding ways to do it on my own I don't think that I would have the mental toughness, willpower, or determination to do all the amazing things that I have learned how to do in my own way over the years.

Don't Be Afraid To Stand Up To a Doctor

I remember a while back when my mom told me about a time when the doctor told my parents that I couldn't do a certain activity. It was during one of my check-ups and I was climbing up on a wall with my little sister laughing and playing around. The doctor turns and looks at my mom and says " she can't be doing that activity." They both look at me and there is a moment of silence. My mom looks back at the doctor and I just love her response, she says " why not? She's doing it. Isn't she? 

Allow Your Child To Do Everything They Can Do

Life is too short to be worrying about what your child can or can't do. In my opinion, I think if your child whether they are a kid, teenager, or even an adult child wants to do something; I say let them even if it means standing up to their doctor as my mom did for me.

Take Away Question

What is worse? Doing everything for your child and them not struggle or letting them struggle their way to the best version of themself.