Here goes nothing…

We were that couple. That happy couple in the doctor’s office excitedly awaiting the birth of our first child in a couple weeks. We walk into the exam room expecting a typical visit after a late-term ultrasound.  But behind closed doors we were told something else. No, we will not be having a healthy child. No, we will not be having the life we dreamed of. Our child will be born with severe disabilities. Most likely he will never walk or talk, and will need maximum assistance for all his daily needs. It felt like the end of everything I knew, the loss of hope, the end of my dreams.

Life was over as I knew it, but not in the ways I had anticipated. Aside from my fear for my son and what his quality of life would be, I though for sure as a family we would have to give up traveling, one of the shared passions of my husband and me. But it turns out, even with epilepsy and  visual impairments, feeding tubes and wheelchairs, we have managed to traverse the globe. From the exotic to the mundane, good trips to bad, we have learned how to make the most of it. And that’s what this blog is all about, getting out and about with your special kid. The how to’s and what to avoids that we’ve learned; a survival guide for the atypical family.

I’ve been putting off starting this blog for a while. Part fear of judgement, part hatred of social media, part busy mama; this project has been on the back burner. But it’s time to share, in hopes that you may feel inspired to pack your bags and take your family somewhere you never thought possible. Whether it’s the park down the street, a camping trip to the closest woods, or a long plane trip away to a far off land.

While I’m not an expert in every type of challenge your child might experience, many of these suggestions can apply to your kid. Don’t worry if you’re not into hiking for 4 hours in the desert or hate traveling to places where you don’t speak the language. Cause let’s face it, sometimes with a special need kid your own neighborhood park can seem like a jungle!