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affect the family as a whole as a result.

As your special needs child will require a significant amount of your attention, you must prepare your children for this redirection of your focus and the cold hard fact that time will be more limited than ever before. Assure your children that you will make time for them as well, however, the day to day business of providing extra care will require some adjustments. As you prepare yourself, try to schedule time in your mind now for your existing children, their needs will not subside and you do not want them to feel forgotten or abandoned.

The entire family will be affected by the birth of a special needs child in a wide variety of ways. Dependent upon the particular illness or disability it will be difficult to maintain a normal household schedule and all family members will need to be flexible. Having a "Plan B" ready for meal preparations, children's events, household chores, etc. will be necessary as you never know when an illness or episode will override your existing schedule.

Teenage children will be well able to grasp the concept of what a special needs child is, but will not be able to comprehend the amount of time and attention this new child will require. They will need to be prepared and educated thoroughly on the condition you will be presented with and they will need to be informed that there will be times when they will need to "pick up the slack" that occurs when parents are coping with rearing a special needs child. The average teenager may not be thrilled at the prospect of having to perform additional household chores and errands, but in order to prevent resentments from developing in the future, an honest estimation of any new or additional responsibilities should be provided.

When a special needs child is born to a family, it is not only the parents who will be challenged by the arrival, but the family as a whole. Existing children may be forced to mature a bit faster than in an average family as the family must pull together in order to remain functional. Having a realistic approach to the challenges that await is the best possible approach parents can take.

Welcoming your new baby into the family will have little difference from that of other newborns arriving if everyone has an idea of what to expect when the new baby comes home.

Learn more about this author, Brigid Bishop.
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