As a parent struggling to raise children with neurobehavioral conditions, or brain differences as we say at home, daily life is often fraught with challenges. Parents of neurotypical children can rarely relate to our struggles or the unconventional way we now parent our children. The standard parenting trope seems to rely heavily on shaming, blaming and judging parents and children who deviate from whatever the current “good parents/good kids” looks like. Good parents don’t let their kids do___ . Good parenting looks like ___. You can fill in the blanks.
Paradigm Shift (A Toastmaster Speech)
The Oxford definition of paradigm shift is a fundamental change in approach or underlying assumptions. In my parenting journey, I’ve had to make a fundamental paradigm shift in how I see all people. Since discovering that my children have an invisible, physical, brain-based disability called FASD and that it affects 1 in 20 individuals, I’ve had to make many adjustments. The most significant was making the leap from “won’t to can’t.”
I Gave My Daughter More Than Just Life
My first born was conceived with zero forethought. At 23, I was not planning on becoming a mother. I wasn’t really planning anything, just living my life. I was working as a nanny and waitress and I spent my evenings going to watch bands play with my boyfriend (now my husband) and drink. Although I do not have a drinking problem we went out at least 3 nights a week and were in line with the rest of our friends.
Our Neurobehavioral Success Story
We had been on a very long and frustrating journey with my son to get him, and us, help. Our fun, funny, athletic, energetic, adorable, and charming son would often tantrum and rage in a way not typical of anything I had seen before. These 40+ minute tantrums were unpredictable and exhausting and seemingly unstoppable. No parenting or discipline technique did anything but escalate him.
Thoughts on FASD and Parkland
As I sit here and digest the details of the latest school shooting I am struck with a question. Is this the work of a brain damaged by alcohol? Is this boy a psychopath or another victim of poor diagnosis and lack of education and awareness around FASD? Is this the result of a lifetime of good strategies and good intentions that were ultimately a poor fit because of undiagnosed brain damage? My heart says yes, so I’ve been aching with the possibility. We know the signs…academic challenges/learning disabilities, trouble at school, trouble making friends and connecting with others, perseverations…multiple diagnoses including mental health…