MarriedWith4kids

My oldest, Tristan, is a handful and a half. He is 10 now, but emotionally isn’t. When he was little he was diagnosed with Sensory Processing Disorder. Kelly, as an OT (occupational therapist), was familiar with this and worked with kids who had similar issues.

Luckily Tristan did not have it so bad that it affected his ability to function and it rarely affected school. Recently he has also exhibited traits consistent with ADHD. It is a daily struggle with him. He have our ups and we have our downs. We have learned over time techniques to use to help him be able to focus and to calm him. Sometimes they work and sometimes we fail him.

I don’t think he would be classified as “special needs”, but we know that he has special needs.

The older my kids get the more I realize that all 4 are special needs children.

What they need though is not a technique or something in a rehab room. What they need is two parents that exhibit the fruit of the spirit daily.

Galations 5:22,23 “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”

I look at that list and all I can see is how much better I as a parent need to be.

I love my kids, but do I show it enough?

Through the frustration of the day is there joy?

In the chaos am I trying to create peace?

When things get difficult am I patient?

As I teach my kids to be kind to others am I doing it in with kindness?

Do I show my children how to be good to others?

Is my marriage and example of faithfulness in love?

Am I gentle in spirit and in tone?

Do I exhibit self-control or am I reactionary?

When it comes right down to it we all have children with special needs and we truly need God to not only keep sane, but to love them with everything in us. We WILL fail. Daily even, but we need to continue to pray that the Spirit of God will bear fruit in our homes.