By Joan M. Blake (author)
When we pray, we should look to God and depend on Him for answers to our life-issues. Let me tell you what happened to our daughter, Jo-an.
In the spring of 2022, we visited a day program and began the journey of sending our special-needs daughter to this program. No program is perfect, but we were looking for a break during the day. We were perfectly comfortable with sending our daughter to the program three days per week, and felt she was too. The director was adamant that a full-time regiment will be good for Jo-An and we reluctantly gave in.
Her full-time regiment started this year in the middle of January and we saw signs that she was resisting this change. However, we went along with the plan only to have difficulties each day in getting her up to shower. On the days that she cooperated, she continued to show irritability and anxiety as she walked to the van. Her days of attendance continued to diminish to three days and in some cases to two. We did not pray about this new regiment, nor did we listen to our hearts. We simply implemented it because someone told us to do so. We continue to struggle hoping that she would attend the program and now, we are not sure if this is the right program for her.
For all mothers especially special-needs moms, please pray and listen to your hearts especially when your children want to tell you something but cannot express themselves. God is speaking to you and with you. All we have to do is listen to His guidance and what He wants for our children/adults.