Comments for

Comment on Our Book Giveaway by Megan

Megan — Thu, 23 May 2013 02:55:58 +0000

I have no regrets that I will make sure our daughter with special needs gets what she needs for the opportunity to succeed.

Comment on Our Book Giveaway by Karen Shoemaker

Karen Shoemaker — Wed, 22 May 2013 22:53:35 +0000

We took in twins 8 yrs. ago after our own kids were grown. They have their issues and we have had our hard times, but we have made a family and wouldn’t trade them for the world.

Comment on It IS a Wonderful Life! by Sara

Sara — Wed, 22 May 2013 22:18:21 +0000

Thank you for a beautiful post; for changing the way we look at our lives as special needs parents; for turning our sorrows into joy! God’s special blessings on your birthday!

Comment on Letting Others In by Sara

Sara — Wed, 22 May 2013 22:13:03 +0000

Dear Kara, thank you for this post which I can so relate to! I’ve checked out your blog and read a couple of posts on grief which I can also relate to. The interesting thing is that this aloneness and isolation that I feel seem to have gotten worse since my autistic son moved out of our family home three years ago. He was 16 then and we had to let him go because I got too burnt out to be able to care for him. His leaving was both excruciatingly painful and traumatic for me. During this process of healing, I have been very sensitive to comments from well-meaning friends and have found more comfort from God than anyone else. I’m so thankful to have found this site for special needs parents who ‘speak my language’. Your posts have given me insights on how I should relate to friends who are baffled at my withdrawal. To explain to them the extent of my burnout and the inability to do what I used to be capable of. If they don’t understand, take the pain to God and try and love them anyway. And to watch out that I don’t make grief my god! Thank you for your insights and keep up your beautiful writing!
Love, Sara

Comment on Letting Others In by Kara Dedert

Kara Dedert — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:45:21 +0000

Thanks for your kind words, Rebekah.I think it’s part of how God takes our ashes and determines to make beauty from them, don’t you?

Comment on Letting Others In by rebekahsusan

rebekahsusan — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:36:44 +0000

What a mighty voice you have in this area, Kara. Amazing how God teaches us and suddenly, we find ourselves experts in fields we would never (in a million years) have chosen. I’m so blessed by how you have opened up your life and shared your experiences.

Comment on Letting Others In by Kara Dedert

Kara Dedert — Wed, 22 May 2013 18:06:11 +0000

I’m so sorry, Karen. It is painful when others don’t acknowledge or invest in our children, especially when they have exceptional needs. Have you found ways to encourage friendships?

Comment on Letting Others In by Karen Arias

Karen Arias — Wed, 22 May 2013 17:12:53 +0000

What irks me more than anything is the fact that although I lived on a “friendly street”, nobody ever took the time to know my autistic son. God forbid there was any emergency of any kind, they’d be afraid to be alone with him, why? Because they don’t know him. This has hurt me many of times.
So, I’ve moved away. It was like being alone, anyway.

Comment on Letting Others In by Kara Dedert

Kara Dedert — Wed, 22 May 2013 15:37:56 +0000

I was in that category too, Wendy. We avoid what we don’t understand or know how to respond. I’m grateful for friends who have been brave enough to enter in or call me even when they have had no idea what to say. We don’t need to be experts, just a friend.

Comment on Letting Others In by wendy

wendy — Wed, 22 May 2013 15:29:39 +0000

This is a helpful post, Kara! I’m ashamed to admit that I fit in that category of people that don’t know how to relate or care for others with special needs children, since I have never been in a similar situation myself.