Understanding our special-needs son or daughter is crucial as we care for them and bring them up in the admonition of the Lord. It is important that our children adhere to rules and regulations that we ourselves set, but we need to be mindful that we are dealing with special-needs children and adults who may not be verbal about their needs particularly when they are sick.
My adult daughter, Emily, may feel exhausted or sick, but does not tell me or know how to tell me that she wants to rest. I may want her to get out of bed at a certain time but, however, that is not what she wants to do because of how she feels. We must put ourselves in their situations, by thinking and feeling as they do. What do we do when we feel sick or exhausted? We rest.
We must understand what they want to learn and the method by which they wish to learn. I bought workbooks for my daughter, only to find that she wants to learn by listening to subjects on her iPad. I also bought art materials thinking she would draw, but unfortunately, she is not interested in drawing. My daughter Emily, enjoys learning English, listening to stories, and music. I am exploring more ways for Emily to enjoy learning.
I will love for you to comment to this post and tell us the ways that your adult sons and daughters respond to learning. May God bless and keep you.
Joan M. Blake (Author)
Thank you Joan, for this article, it is so good to hear from your perspective as a Christian parent on how best to support your daughter and bring out the best in her. I have forwarded the article to a couple in our church who I think will benefit from this. Keep up the good work! I also just read a newsletter from a missionary couple whose daughter has Down Syndrome as well as Autism, the Mom was writing how she is learning that every moment matters. While caring for her daughter doesn’t seem as glamorous as some other ministry jobs, it totally matters! Love and blessings, Wilma
Hello Wilma,
Thank you so much for your encouragement. Also, it is good to hear what others are going through as well. I am in the process of setting up a support group for caretakers who have children/adults with special needs.