There is just no other way to say it.
Parenting (in general) can be hard enough. Parenting special needs children can present a whole new slew of challenges. You have to be creative in a million different ways, develop and use more patience than you ever thought you were capable of, become an expert in therapies you never really heard of before diagnosis and face challenges and scrutiny when you go out. We prepare the kids every time before we go out to a restaurant with the rules of conduct. The older ones mostly get it, but Acroboy still needs to be coached EVERY SINGLE TIME. And I'm lucky because I can take them to restaurants and public places, because others I know are not so lucky. I'll stop there for now.
It's difficult for friends of neurotypical kids to understand all this. After years of working with my family (and tremendous growth on my kids' part) my childhood family are beginning to really see the awesomeness of my kids, and understand the challenges of how we've gotten to where we are.
As a mom to special needs children, it hurts when your child(ren) don't get invited to parties because of their mannerisms and quirks. It also hurts when YOU don't get invited to things because of your children and/or the schedule you have for your child(ren)'s sake.
