a bipolar daughter and the family who loves her: How Can You Help? Ask if Your Friend Needs A Free Sitter for a Night!

About our Daughter

I am mother to four wonderful daughters, ages 17, 19, 21, and 23, and wife to the greatest husband on earth. God has given us a special child to raise one who was diagnosed with early-onset bipolar disorder at the age of seven, though she showed signs of it from the age of fifteen months. She also has ADHD, Sensory Integration Disorder (sensory seeking), Dyslexia, and Non-Verbal Learning Disorder-NOS, all typical comorbidities for a bipolar child. In spite of the trials, she enjoys lacrosse, running (finished her first marathon in October of 2014!), and reading and writing her own books. I will share with you the many joys and sorrows we have faced and will face in the future with the hope that you may find better understanding about this mental illness caused by both chemical and structural abnormalities in the brain. I desire that you will be encouraged by this blog if you are also dealing with a bipolar child. Thank you for reading and sharing in our journey.

How Did You Know She Was Bipolar So Young?

I wrote a long explanation of how we came to this bipolar diagnosis in a child so young under my post of March 19th of 2009. If your child or a child you know bears similarities, please seek out a good psychiatrist and don't wait for "things to get better." Often they will simply get worse, and the longer a child is unmedicated, the more damage their brain can accrue. Early diagnoses and treatment are key to providing these children with a chance at a successful life later as a teen and an adult.

Monday, January 17, 2011

How Can You Help? Ask if Your Friend Needs A Free Sitter for a Night!

Are you a friend to someone with a Bipolar (or Aspergers, Autistic) child? Did you know that one of the nicest things you could do for your dear exhausted friend is to offer to babysit one night so she could go out and have a fun night to herself or a date night? Mature sitters who can handle the extra challenge and can love their special kid are hard to come by. You would be such a blessing to your friend in this way, even if it was just once a year! We have been there in the past with never getting time away to recharge because we didn't have someone we felt we were not burdening by asking them to watch our kids. Parents of special needs kids have a very hard time asking for help in the ways that mean the most. Just a thought!

5 comments:

SarahinSC said...: Amen to that! What I wouldn't give for a night out with my husband when I felt comfortable with whoever was with him!; January 17, 2011 at 11:33 AM
Anonymous said...: We have family friends who have told us we can leave our daughter with them. They said they're not worried about her exploding or other challenging behaviors. It's so great knowing we have them and don't have to worry about how she'll act when she's with them...well, just a little bit. What a blessing they are.; January 17, 2011 at 1:37 PM
Christy said...: My husband and I suffer from the same need and frustration. Sometimes, it's just hard to even ask someone to babysit because of the anxiety and fear that comes from burdening someone. Yet, our family's greatest need is often to have Mom and Dad get away for a brief time to recharge and rejuvenate. Thanks for making others aware of this often silent need!; January 17, 2011 at 7:07 PM
Anonymous said...: This is the truth! This weekend alone we tried to get a sitter twice, but those we trust are too busy. It's hard to find the time with others, especially since there are so few people that we trust. But a night alone with my man makes me such a better mom!

I will also say that we almost never ask since we don't want to burden people. So it is such a gift if you can offer it up to a mom!; January 17, 2011 at 8:11 PM
Wrye said...: Even a hour would be heaven! One hour to think my thoughts and go for a walk in the sunshine without having to monitor my daughter's mood . . .; January 21, 2011 at 1:46 PM