Gamechanging Moments or Comments in Your Life

my aha moment came from my then 6 year old. i wasn't coping well with her disability (for the lack of proper word), and every time a doc entered the room i would cry, just unable to control my emotions. well i guess my 6 year old had enough of me, and one time, she gave me a huge smile after hearing the 'diagnosis' and seeing the waterworks come down my face "mom at least i am alive and happy.'
i cannot believe she was able to find a bright side for herself, and i was unable to. i felt horrible. why was i so upset? was i losing her? no. then what? was it the notion of losing 'the perfect' child? i am ashamed to say probably. but she opened my eyes. a week later i got on antidepressants and 9 months later we are doing much better ('we' as in 'i'). that comment changed my life. this kid has changed my life. she has made me a stronger person, she teaches me how to be a great mom to her. i swear, i cannot breathe without thinking about her. what a kid.

For me it was hearing "your son is bipolar" that day changed my life forever, and changed the way i had to parent my son. That comment his psychiatrist made after a long process, made me realize all the behaviors and issues he had wasn't because i failed as a mother, but something I couldn't change. And today my son my little guy who has taught me that no matter how rough life is there's always sunshine amoung the darkest clouds.

H.,
I think just the fact that watching the interview, it made you stop, look back, look around and really think is so wonderful.
As parents, we do need to challenge our own thinking from time to time.
A sure sign that you're a great parent.
We all need to roll with our changing scenarios, phases, general "set" attitudes...because our children are changing daily.

When my youngest was in the 1st grade, he was quite the adventurer. He walked off school grounds at least 3 times (all of which ended in law enforcement searching with us). He was in constant trouble but off the charts when it came to classwork and testing. I was banging my head against the proverbial wall at a parent conference when his teacher said a gamechanging thing to me. She said that my son was "scary smart" and that all the characteristics that drove all of us crazy now were going to be the same characteristics that would make him a fantastic, successful adult. My job, she said, was to keep him alive long enough to enjoy those positive characteristics. (This was shortly after he went missing in below freezing winter weather with a foot or two of snow on the ground, so keeping him alive was a literal comment.)

After that, I saw my son in a totally different way. I worked much harder at seeing the world from his perspective. What an amazing journey THAT'S been! We still have our struggles, but, at nearly 14, he's become a great young man, someone I truly enjoy spending time with. I look back at where I was with him at 7 and I thank heaven for this teacher every day.

:)

I understand your point...I just wouldn't look too hard to Woody Allen for parenting advice...just saying :)

We've been to hell and back with our son's ADHD. One time when we saw his behavioral therapist, he said, "You know, when I talk with my colleagues about ADHD, we all agree on the same point: You have to be a saint to parent a child with ADHD."

It was the first time anyone ever acknowledged just how hard it is. I just about cried when he said that, because unless you have a child with special needs, it's not something you usually fully understand, but he did.

We're by no means saints, but it made me feel like we really are doing the best we can.

Getting the diagnosis of autism for my son changed my life in a way I never expected. No I am not at all speaking in a negative way. Has it made life harder? Sure. Would I change that? No way in hell. It has made the way I parent better for both of my children. I love the way it has changed me and my life.

I don't agree at all. Using our physical body can be done in safe ways and does not need to require a free for all mentality in the home. For example....dancing to music okay, running around in circles and bumping into things, not okay... Jumping in a moonwalk with supervision is okay... Jumping randomly on the couch or bed...not okay.

I never allow rough housing as in wrestling between children. It's not safe and I wouldn't want 2 children doing it any more than 3 or 10.

My kids were raised safely and they each have their own personalities in very obvious ways. My oldest came out of the womb standoffish and hard to get close to and she's been that way all her life and will always be. My 3rd daughter is very strict with her son. It's not hurting him. He's sweet and well mannered and extremely happy. He also has 3 loving grandmothers and 2 grandfathers in his life daily to balance the score a bit. :)