Well, it's been a rough few days here at the abode. Parenting is hard enough on all parents without extra issues to deal with. And when you've got extra extras, well, it can get pretty sketchy. Having an autistic son as well as one with a mood disorder stretches our parenting limits to an unbelievable degree at times and last night was no exception.
There are evenings when Sean and I just look at one another across the room with ravaged faces of "What now?"
As I sat in the Zipps' living room, tears streaming down my face, they tried to talk me off the ledge and remind me of truths that deep down I already know: that we love our boys and they know it, that it's not too late, that tomorrow is another day to get it right.
Sean and I have a ground-level philosophy that we hold on to when things get incredibly rough around here: First do no harm. Yep - just like medical professionals. First. Do. No. Harm. Because sometimes we are at the bottom of the barrel, so to speak.
When one of our boys is coming unhinged in a manner that is beyond our control and comprehension at the moment, the very basic concept we try to rely on when nothing else is working or we ourselves are feeling a bit out of control is do no harm. However we end up dealing at that split second with what is in front of us, we must do it in a way that is not harmful to them physically, emotionally, mentally, or spiritually. And if we can get through that moment, then we move on.
And move on we are doing ...
So I see that I can no longer just blog stalk, you know that I have come for a visit. Well, I feel for you. We don't have children that have extra issues besides being stinky little boys, so I can't totally relate, but I appreciate your "do no harm" advice. Sometimes our especially naughty little 8 year old is a real meanie to his brothers and we just want to bop him right back. I will have to remember do. no. harm. Parenting is the best!
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