tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2959253662881047710.post1270522610528682246..comments2024-03-18T07:19:38.022-05:00Comments on Hopeful Parents: It's my birthdayHopeful Parentshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10998569368345552372noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2959253662881047710.post-1906904742089833372010-08-24T23:46:01.000-05:002010-08-24T23:46:01.000-05:00Hi, Jennifer. I'm a new Hopeful Parent monthl...Hi, Jennifer. I'm a new Hopeful Parent monthly blogger, and I too wrote a birthday post on my birthday (on the 10th). I also have 2 boys with special needs, and have been hearing that "I don't know how you do it" comment since they were born, although early on it was just because they were twins. Like you, my answer has always been "I do it because I do it. Do I have an alternative?" because really we are not all of us that special as parents. We have found ourselves in extraordinary circumstances and are somehow all just rising to the occasion. This is not to minimize what we do, but maybe more to minimize the sense of distance between us and those parents of "typical" kids who marvel at us - they are just one twist of fate away from walking in our shoes. And maybe that's scary to them so they need to think of us as special and chosen somehow, but we know better, we're just muddling through as best we can, making it up as we go along and hoping the tremendous love makes up for our occasional glaring fails.. Anyway, I'm glad to be getting to know you and Happy Birthday from down the road (I just turned the big 5-0)<br><br>Vardahttp://thesquashedbologna.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2959253662881047710.post-2191435826799373462010-08-24T13:17:12.000-05:002010-08-24T13:17:12.000-05:00Happy Birthday! I'll be hitting 39 myself thi...Happy Birthday! I'll be hitting 39 myself this year...I loved your post and your reflections. Thanks for sharing your story.<br><br>Alysiahttp://trydefyinggravity.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2959253662881047710.post-88491877644140081132010-08-24T11:52:55.000-05:002010-08-24T11:52:55.000-05:00Happy birthday! And don' get nervous about the...Happy birthday! And don' get nervous about the forties, because they're the BEST decade!<br>Great post --<br><br>Elizabethhttp://www.elizabethaquino.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2959253662881047710.post-503154582030815212010-08-24T09:52:16.000-05:002010-08-24T09:52:16.000-05:00Happy birthday! As someone who has already gone th...Happy birthday! As someone who has already gone through my 40s, you'll love them. (Although I found the mid-30s pretty great, too!) The thing about getting older, as my sister-in-law always says is, it sure beats the alternative. A friend has a special needs child so, while I don't walk in her and your shoes, I see up close and personal the challenges her life presents. I found -- and gave to her -- a <a href="http://www.robynstecher.com/the_writer.html" rel="nofollow"> memoir </a> about parenting a special needs child by Robyn Stecher ("There's Something about Daniel") that she loved and I think you'll enjoy as well. It's excellent not only for parents but really for anyone looking for a dose of inspiration. Stecher tells wonderful stories about life with her son Daniel -- there's heart, and wisdom, humor, love, and faith in her very special son and love for her very special life.<br><br>lizhttp://www.twitter.com/lizreadsnoreply@blogger.com