Do you ever wonder if you'd be able to cope with a handicapped child?

[yvr girl]

I happened to see several mentally challenged people in the last few days. Preteens to adults. They were all with their families. I saw one elderly lady with her son - she was taking him grocery shopping. I'm sure she has spent the vast majority of her adult life caring for him.

I have friends who have 3 small boys, and a visit to their house just wipes me out. I don't know how Cheryl does it 24/7. You add someone who has special needs to the mix, and I'm sure I would fail miserably.

I just don't know if I would have enough love, patience or understanding. I think the parents who face this challenge are amazing. You're angels in disguise.

[candy]

1. I have wondered it all of my life. I swear that these people----

were given an extra something at the birth of their handicapped child.

As you said,they are angels.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. I worked with such children for several years

it is very tiring, but there are blessings as well. Small increments of learning, a look of the angelic as you hold them in your arms....

[forgethell]

3. Well, my daughter has

severe learning disabilities, although she's smart enough when she wants to be. Her main problem seems to be the attention span of a gnat. She's 29 and has lived at home all her life.

If you love someone, you do what you have to do.

[annabanana]

4. How to plan for the future of a child with these problems

would worry me grey for the rest of my life... I have tremendous respect for those with this story to write.

[leftchick]

5. My sister has a son with CP who just turned 16....

He is in a wheelchair, needs lifts in the bedroom and bathroom, they have a spevial van for him. It sucks! What is worse is my sister is a fundie who loves bush**. This woman is a college professor too and she is so clueless. :(

[patricia92243]

6. I have found most people do whatever is needed in their life. If our

child were handicapped, I think most of us would surprise ourselves at how nobly we would respond.

Most people are made of sterner stuff than they realize.

[Blue Diadem]

7. I agree. n/t

[burn the bush]

8. my brother is mentallly handicapped, He's 51 now and lives with me.

Mom has alzheimers and parkinsons and lives with me.
My three year old grandson is a diabetic and has epilepsy. They live with me, though they are getting ready to leave again.

My mom took care of my brother all of his life. When she got sick, I took them in. That was always the plan. I had just planned that there would be 10 years or so between the time my own kids left home and my mom and brother had to come live with me. I didn't get 10 years. I didn't even get 10 months.

so now, I don't leave home much coz somebody has to be able to take care of mom. My brother is pretty self sufficient. He is on the higher level so he takes care of himself for the most part.

It was very hard giving my 3 yr old grandson up to 6 shots a day. He is on the pump now and it is much better. His behavior problems have calmed down considerably since getting on the pump. Don't get me wrong, he's not a sickly little kid. He's a power ranger I'll have you know. Very active, very smart.

Some people say I'm a saint for taking them all in. But we know that I am not. My mom was my best friend for many many many years. She had the hardest life of anyone I know. She deserves to stay with me instead of a home. My husband-he's the saint. They aren't his relatives and he never blinked an eye about taking them in.

Fortunatly, I don't have to work and with them chipping in on the bills I can stay home and they can stay too.

[smirkymonkey]

9. I don't even think I could cope with a non-handicapped child.

I am so not cut out for parenthood.