100 Ways for Special Needs Moms to Practice Self-Care

by jphilo | Sep 20, 2013 | Different Dream, Self-Care and Stress, Special Needs Parenting

100 Ways for Special Needs Moms to Practice Self-Care

Special needs moms work 24/7 caring for their kids. But, in a post at Mobility Resources, Dr. Darla Clayton makes a case for moms to make time to practice self-care. She puts it this way: It’s important to remember in all that care we are providing to others, that sometimes we need to take care of ourselves too. Just like the flight attendant reminds you every time you fly, you need to put on your own oxygen mask before you can assist others.

100 Ways for Moms to Practice Self-Care

Clayton (she’s a clinical psychologist and mom of a son with special needs) then suggests 100 ways for moms to practice self-care. Here are 20 of her suggestions:

1. Go for a walk.
2. Nap. (Either when your kiddo naps, or whenever you can steal a few minutes!)
3. Put on makeup and do your hair. Make yourself feel beautiful.
4. Listen to an audiobook in the car. (You can use the OverDrive App to download audiobooks to your smart phone from the library for free!)
5. Sneak in and hold your little one while they sleep.
6. Snuggle with your kids.
7. Skip cooking and order a pizza.
8. Call your best friend.
9. Reminisce with loved ones.
10. Say yes to fast food (every now and then).
11. Say no to over scheduling yourself.
12. Sing.
13. Dance around the house to your favorite music.
14. Rent a movie.
15. Chocolate. Enough said.
16. DVR your favorite show and watch it all by yourself.
17. Hug someone you love.
18. Relax and be silly (roll down a hill, go on a slip and slide).
19. Laugh, hard and loud.
20. Show the kids a movie you loved at their age.

Some of those are pretty simple and most are pretty inexpensive or free. That’s cool, isn’t it?

What Would You Add to the Self-Care List?

Was your favorite way to pamper yourself on the list? If not, leave it in the comment box. We might want to try it, too.

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Jolene Philo is the author of several books for the caregiving community. She speaks at parenting and special needs conferences around the country. Sharing Love Abundantly With Special Needs Families: The 5 Love Languages® for Parents Raising Children with Disabilities, which she co-authored with Dr. Gary Chapman, was released in August of 2019 and is available at local bookstores, their bookstore website, and Amazon. See Jane Sing!, the second book in the West River cozy mystery series, which features characters affected by disability, was released in November of 2022.

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3 Special Needs Parenting Burdens and How to Lay Them Down

Spiritual burdens often weigh upon parents of kids with special needs. Guest blogger Kimberly Drew is well-acquainted with those burdens. Today she shares promises from Scripture that help her lay down her burdens and walk an easier road.

Special Needs Parenting Burdens and How to lay Them Down

I have found in these early years of Abbey’s life, that I am too easily swayed by today’s medical crisis or tomorrow’s potential problem. While there is a certain level of compounded stress that comes with her care, I am assured in Scripture that I have everything I need in Christ to travel an emotionally lighter road.

The Burden of Despair

For instance, when I’m tempted to despair, I’m reminded in 1 Corinthians 10:13, “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”

The Burden of Busyness

I sometimes use the demands of her care as an excuse to drift away from God. I’m too busy to do a Bible study, too exhausted to pray, too overwhelmed to invest in my spiritual life. But the reality is, those things are what keep me grounded and emotionally balanced. When I neglect this part of my life my soul withers. But there’s joy and peace that come when I plant myself next to His streams! When we strive to live righteously, we are like this man in Psalm 1:3, “He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.” I’m a completely different person in Christ than I would be left to myself.

The Burden of Insignificance

The biggest discouragement comes when I start thinking that somehow the things going on in my life don’t matter to God. That couldn’t be farther from the truth! “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.” (Luke 12:6-7)

The little things matter to God. Every doctor’s appointment, every phone call, every feeding session, the diaper changes and baths…the sadness from watching her peers and wondering what she might have been like…He knows every tear. He knows the sleepless nights too! Psalm 56:8 assures us, “You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?”

Fewer Burdens=Easier Road

I pray all the time that I can use these lessons to travel this road of raising a child with special needs a little lighter. To cast off my heavy burdens to the One who can exchange them for something better. I love the Message translation of Matthew 11:28-30. “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

What Burdens You?

What special needs burdens are you carrying? What promises from Scriptures make it easier to bear them? Leave a comment so others can see their burdens are common to all of us.

Do you like what you see at DifferentDream.com? You can receive more great content by subscribing to the quarterly Different Dream newsletter and signing up for the daily RSS feed delivered to your email inbox. You can sign up for the first in the pop-up box and the second at the bottom of this page.

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Kimberly grew up and went to college in the small town of Upland, IN. She graduated from Taylor University with a degree in Elementary Education in 2002. While at TU, she married her college sweetheart and so began their adventure! Ryan and Kimberly have four amazing kids on earth (Abigail, Jayden, Ellie, and Cooper), and a baby boy waiting for them in heaven. Their daughter Abigail (Abbey) has multiple disabilities including cerebral palsy, a seizure disorder, hearing loss, microcephaly, and oral dysphagia. She is the inspiration behind Kimberly’s desire to write. In addition to being a stay-at-home mom, Kimberly has been serving alongside her husband in full time youth ministry for almost fourteen years. She enjoys working with the senior high girls, scrapbooking, reading, and music. You can visit Kimberly at her website, Promises and Perspective.