In the beginning of the pandemic, almost one year ago (!!) we were all ready to stay home, buckle down for a few months, and take it as an opportunity to pause and do some self-exploration, then get back to life as usual. But as time passes, we?re weary and exhausted. Life is heavily restricted. You might be one of those Canadians thinking that it?s about time we got back to socializing at our kids? hockey practices and enjoying the occasional indulgent dinner out. A polar vortex winter without travelling to a sunny vacation spot is proving to be a bit much. The worry over our children?s mental health and social development is really sinking in. Will they ever go to another birthday party or invite their friends for a sleepover" Will they ever get to play a team sport" If the kids need therapy, can we afford it" Families are facing economic stress and moms, in particular, are sacrificing their careers when daycares shut down or schools cannot provide a safe education for their kids. Will the restrictions lift enough that relatives might drop by and offer tired parents a much needed break"
This relentless version of parenting certainly isn?t what any of us asked for when we signed on to have kids. But pandemic parenting is actually a whole lot like disability parenting, and these are questions parents of kids with disabilities confront every single day, regardless of the coronavirus. We’ll be dealing with many of these same restrictions long afte...