I am the married Mom of 3 teens, more than one of whom has special mental health needs. The list of abbreviations that goes along with the various disorders is probably familiar to most anyone who would come to a forum like this.
Networking with other families has been awesome support for me, over the past several years. I do this online, in my home, in my community and basically wherever the oportunity presents itself. I am so grateful to have the chance to share support.
Professionals can also be part of a support collaborative, altho parens often must fashion their own networks first. One of my advocacy and suport activities is a cost free newsletter that I started a little over a year ago,called The Time Out for Families Gazette. It is sent to professionals and families from all over.
I am a parent just like you. I have 3 teens. One has Bipolar Disorder, another has Asperger Syndrome and our middle child is being treated for depression and anxiety. These disorders alo involve varying degrees of LD. It’s a very full late here!
I am using this post as an opportunity to do yet, some more networking. I would love to share a copy of The Time Out for Families Gazette newsletter with you or e mail regarding support for parenting the LD child etc etc.
Christine
[email protected]
Re: high needs parenting
I tried answering this via regular e mail but got a message that your account is over quota and the e mail came back to me.
Hello Teresa,
My reply to your e mail is long overdue. I am glad I can finally share some of the details you had asked about, with regard to support groups and networking.
Actually, it sounds as to you have initiated the process in a logical fashion….”try, try try”. It’s hard to assess what your stumbling block has been.
The support group I ally with is not for LD, but is rather for a situation that often is linked with LD-children with special menhealthalth needs like ADD etc etc etc.
We meet consistently in the same place on a regular schedule. Word of mouth and a phone call reminder is helpful for us, before emeetingting. I don’t know about you, but sometimes I need a memory jog. Our group is also mentioned in related places. For you, hooking up with your local PTA/PTO might be useful. Perhaps your town even has SpEd PTA?
Another factor in groups I have attended is ho th meeting is moderated. A well balanced group, not full of moaning and groaning is often well worth venturing out for.
If you have even a small budget a flyer might be useful,as well…especially if it serves as a reminder or calendar for upcoming meetings. Good refreshments always help folks get comfortable once they are there…don’t laugh-it’s true! Perhaps a handout or two, reference material, somthing visitors can bring home. Follow up a meeting with a friendly phone call. The trick is to keep them coming back.
As the parent of more than one child with special mental health needs/accompanying LD I can honestly say that support is a most valued commodity, especially coming from another parent who “knows”. It’s gotten me thru many a rough time-I still have ‘em, even now. But once I was able to climb out of my own back yard, getting proactive was the only way to go. I started creating, fist an online forum, then the printed newsletter.
I hosomewhat e mail has been somewat helpful. I welcome any feedback that you may have.
Sincerely,
Christine
Editor-The Time Out for Families Gazette
Christine, I would love to receive a copy of The Time Out for Families Gazette newsletter, or you can e mail me at this e mail address that will be on this post. the other e mail address is at my home, I am currently at work. I would love any suggestions you might can give me in starting a support groups for LD parents in Talladega. One other parent whose daughter has Down’s Syndrome and I tried to start a support group last year but we never had over 2 or 3 people to show up at the meetings even though we has guest speakers such as advocates to speak at the meetings, I don’t think there are any support groups for LD parents in at least a 50 mile radius around where I live. How do you advertise you meetings (time, place, speakers) where most people would see it, we even printed up flyers and put them in the libraries and posted them on bulletin boards as you go into the grocery stores, if you have any additional advice it would be appreciated very much. Thanks Teresa