What’s a Father to Do……

For the Fathers who face the daily struggle of living with a neurodivergent child :

When he doesn’t know how to help his child?

When he doesn’t understand the complexities of his child’s brain?

When he gets frustrated over his child not living up to their potential?

When he gets scared when he realizes that the family simply doesn’t have the financial resources to help his child?

When he just gets angry?

When he just wants his child to be “normal’?

When he needs to cry but doesn’t want to?

When he lacks the words of comfort he wants to provide for his children?

When he’s exhausted because he loses sleep at night because he’s worried?

When he’s still trying to figure out how his own brain works, let alone his child’s?

When he can’t be present at every teacher, doctor or IEP meeting because he has to work?

When he comes home and finds chaos everywhere?

When he just wants a break?

When he doesn’t have the same connection with his children as their mother?

When he just wants to yell at his kid because they aren’t doing something right, or turning in their homework on time, or just being belligerent?

A father can……..…

Love – yourself, your child, your spouse, your partner, the mother, the other parent.

Accept your child

Be curious

Hit the pause button

Breathe

Ask questions

Be patient

Be open

Communicate your difficulties to whomever will listen

Spend quality time with your neurodivergent child

Read anything you can get your hands on about your child

Hold your child

Just be there

Look for financial resources to help

Get counseling, therapy, coaching

Pray

Just be there

Give yourself a break

Discover employee law allowing time off for IEP’s and doctor appointments

I’m sure I’ve left things out but I wanted to honor those fathers who have been given the gift and challenge of a neurodivergent child. You are often left in the background and suffer silently. To you, I say, you are special, appreciated and loved.

Happy Father’s Day!

”My father was an amazing man.  The older I got, the smarter he got.”

-Mark Twain