What it?s like being trapped in a special needs marriage
by Whitney Barthel posted in Parenting
Just last summer I wrote about a study that found married couples who are the parents of a special-needs child, specifically parents of children with Down syndrome, are less likely to separate than couples raising normal-ability children.
                           *Me, my husband, Daniel (now 6), and Frankie (now almost 5).
The study, which included 375,000 families,called the phenomenon ?The Down Syndrome Advantage.? Researchers found that parents of ?normal? children were 10.8 percent likely to divorce, while the parents of children with Down syndrome were only 7.8 percent likely.
Our son Daniel, who has Down syndrome, is now 6 years old. I still usually feel that, with my husband and me, it is ?us against the world? and that our bond as shared caregivers of Daniel is unbreakable--most days.
                                                    * Our whole family January of 2016
But, there are always those other days. Days where being the main caregiver of a special-needs child?plus three more?really makes me understand how a woman can feel a little less than warm and fuzzy towards her husband. And perhaps a little trapped.
Being the mother to four young, overly-energetic boys (one with Down syndrome) can be exhausting. To always be needed.needed.needed.needed.
To be the only one in charge of therapies, everything school related, what each grunt and c...
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