Parenting is one of the hardest jobs you will ever have!
Psychotherapist Gayle Forman, visited with Dancing On Our Disabilities Radio, hosted by Myra Goldick and discussed the difficult and daunting tasks of parenting in general. Gayle placed special emphasis on the complications that arise when the child has visible or invisible disabilities and needs special care.
The conversation was spirited and Gayle pointed out that nature has provided all the tools most of us need to become parents. Becoming a parent is really easy to do and for the most part, it’s fun. However, it’s one job that no one can teach you in school beforehand. You can take as many classes as you want regarding the role the parent plays in the life of a child and what parenting is going to demand of you. However, until you bring that little bundle of joy home and change your first diaper, or face months of sleep deprivation, you have no clue what lies ahead. Those early stages are just the starting point of your journey. The serious issues arise as the child begins to mature and learns to say “no” and fight you every step of the way. It’s a struggle of “who’s the boss” and a battle of will power. That’s just the beginning of your next 21 years. Your belief system, which is what you’ve been taught by your parents, the pressures that society places on young people, peer pressure, the availability of alcohol, drugs, and societies very lenient attitude towards early sexual activity, can be more than challenging. In some extreme cases, it can send you running for help and psychological support. All of these normal issues become magnified if your child has developmental, emotional, or physical disabilities.
More than likely, you will drag through the college years praying that everything you taught your children sank in and that they will remain safe and unharmed. Add into the equation an aging parent with disabilities, who becomes your responsibility and suddenly your life becomes a living hell. If you’re feeling anxious, frustrated, and not understanding your feelings of anger or guilt, you are not alone. The good news is that you’re normal.
Gayle Foreman who spoke openly about these issues, received her MSW from New York University (In 1989). She had the opportunity to work with a variety of diagnoses. She has been widely celebrated for her parent workshops, helping parents learn to cope with and raise a child who marched to a different drummer. She has vast experience with ADHD, Oppositional/Defiant Disorder, Conduct Disorder, a variety of mild to severe learning disabilities, Dissociative Identity Disorder (referred to as Multiple Personality Disorder in its earlier diagnostic stage), and Autusim and Asperser’s Disorder. Gayle has extensive experience in working with families, children and adults with Tourette Syndrome. She also has had a great deal of experience advocating for children’s rights with schools. She has been in private practice since 2000.
Gayle addresses the problems many families are facing today, raising your aging parents, suffering with age related disabilities, while trying to keep your head above water financially, all at the same time you’re trying to parent your own children. It’s not all bad news.The good news is that there is a tremendous amount of help available.
To listen to this wonderful psychotherapist’s interview click here: Non-Flash MP3 Direct Link
