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Advice to Parents Discovering their child as Mentally Challenged

The following are some of the reactions a parent can face having a Mentally challenged Child.

Emotional Issues
Parents of mentally challenged children commonly experience a gamut of emotions over the years. They often struggle with guilt. One or both parents may feel as though they somehow caused the child to be disabled, whether from genetics, alcohol use, stress, or other logical or illogical reasons. This guilt can harm the parent's emotional health if it is not dealt with.

Physical Exhaustion and Stress
Physical exhaustion can take a toll on the parents of a mentally challenged child. The degree of this is usually relative to the amount of care needed. Feeding, bathing, moving, clothing and diapering an infant is much easier physically than doing the same tasks for someone who weighs 80 pounds. The child may have more physician and other health-care appointments than a typical child and may need close medical monitoring.

Financial Concerns
Raising a child with a mental challenge may be more expensive than raising a typical child. These expenses can arise from medical equipment and supplies, medical care, caregiving expenses, private education, tutoring, adaptive learning equipment or specialized transportation.

What can you advice to these parents with special cases?Post your comments please.

Tags: Behaviorism, Challenged, Mental, Special, needs, retardation

Replies are closed for this discussion.

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Karen Galapon Pagarigan on June 19, 2014 at 12:15pm

Ma'am.. I'd been handling child with special needs for almost 5 years. actually I'd been with this kid when he was diagnosed with autism. so I saw the reaction of his parents when they knew that their kid had exceptionality. as my experience, the only advice that I can share to the parents is that accept their child. Treat them as special not because of their exceptionality/disability but because of their needs. embrace their special needs and think that they are gift from the Almighty God.

Permalink Reply by Dahl Sagucio on June 19, 2014 at 5:12pm

How nice. Special kids are really special gift. Thanks Karen.

Permalink Reply by Leslie Lleno on June 19, 2014 at 12:44pm

Ma'am Dahl, parents should not blame themselves for having a mentally challenged child,let's say their child inherited it,but it doesn't mean it's directly from the parents.I strongly advice them to love and accept their children.Don't make them feel they're different,besides its their own child.

Permalink Reply by Dahl Sagucio on June 19, 2014 at 5:13pm

Yes. Good suggestion. Why feel guilty anyway. It is God's will and God's challenge in parenting.
Thanks Miss Leslie Lleno.

Permalink Reply by Leslie Lleno on June 23, 2014 at 1:47pm

You're most welcome Ma'am Dahl :) thanks po.

Permalink Reply by Jiea Castro on June 19, 2014 at 6:48pm

Ma'am... Having a child with mental disability is very hard and takes a lot of patience. But, you should never feel tired or give them up just because they are different than most children. They are God's blessing to your family, never treat them as if they don't belong, you may think that they don't feel a thing or understand anything you say, they too are children, humans, they are also aware of feeling when they are hated. and sometimes that feeling results to make their recovery a lot harder because they know they are hated or outed from the family.You too should never feel bad if you think you made them this way, YOU DIDNT. Its not your fault, never feel sorry for yourself, instead be strong, LIfe is too short to waste it. There's a reason why God gave them to your family, and you should treasure that rather than hating them more. They're Special, so you should be proud you have a very special child. Help them get better by being their family, support them through their challenges, someday you will realize how wonderful it was to be a part of their world.

Permalink Reply by Dahl Sagucio on June 19, 2014 at 7:02pm

Nice advice Jiea. Thanks.

Permalink Reply by Yna Natividad Castillo on June 19, 2014 at 7:36pm

Comparison is the thief of joy..

Every Child is different.. Yes, its hard when you have a child with special needs but we must consider them as normal, we must encourage them to go to school, do life skills, have playdates.. CSNs can say things, such as "I don’t think i want to go to school" or something worse. this just says they need more affection, csns are very sweet person, they just need more time and care. parents should not be disappointed or feel guilty. Every child is special in their own way. Just be proud and Embrace their child.

Permalink Reply by Khyla Marinielle Lim on June 19, 2014 at 8:19pm

Ma'am.. I'ts been a while since I interacted with special needs.. Its been a year since a friend of mine passed away, yes it its too hard to take care of them. Not to mention the time, effort and money that you have to spend. But also the patience that you have to exert in dealing with them everyday. But then, when they smiled at you or laugh with for even in a corny joke.. all the hardships fade and all you think is that.. this is my precious child, the love of my life, my everything. They should be treated like such., be taken cared off and be loved for they are... gifts from God!

Permalink Reply by Dahl Sagucio on June 20, 2014 at 3:37am

Ohh..this means these special kids are temporal. Depending on their cases, they can live longer or shorter.
We must cherish them then. Thanks Kyla.

Permalink Reply by Khyla Marinielle Lim on June 22, 2014 at 4:58pm

Thanks ma'am. :)

Permalink Reply by Khyla Marinielle Lim on June 19, 2014 at 8:20pm