My kids, Emmett and Gavin in particular have ever growing needs. Doctors visits and therapies, just to name a few. Much of the time I’m able to meet those needs and others times I’m not. Typically, I try to take it a week at a time as that’s the best I can do right now. Currently, I have arrived at a place where I just can’t keep up with the demand. Gavin’s recent hospital stays and the van breaking down have disrupted our rather delicate financial balance. At times like these I have to find other ways to make it another week.
The boys have a week filled with therapies and at least one trip to Akron Children’s Hospital. So the agenda for today is to figure out how to make it another week until my next check. Here is what I have decided to do. I have an XBOX 360 with Kinect bundle and about 8 games. Later on today, after Lizze wakes up, I’m going to take it to Gamestop and trade or actually more like sell it to them.
In all honesty, this doesn’t excite me to do this, as I LOVE my XBOX. However, I LOVE my kids more and so I’m glad that I had it to sell. It won’t fetch anywhere close to what it’s actually worth (as Gamestop is a rip off) but it will put gas in the van so we can get the kids to their appointments this week.
I share this because I want people to understand what types of sacrifices come into play when your a special needs family. I know many of you out there have had to make similar sacrifices. To most people, maybe giving up an XBOX doesn’t seem like a huge deal but when it’s really the only luxury you have left, it hurts a little more.
On the plus side, we live to fight another week and that is well worth the cost 🙂
I just breifly scaned some of your stories…. but I had to stop for fear I would start balling from an overwhelming feeling of FINALLY someone speaking the same exact language as myself. Dont get me wrong, I know parents of special needs kids, but to see it in words, wow! I only have one child of extreme special needs and a very typical child, they are twins. I feel so many times overwhelemed and many times its read as being lazy…… I am soo far from that.
I will read over your stories a bit at a time…. I want to say my heart goes out to you and your family and you sound like such a wonderful involved and dedicated parent.
Thanks for sharing!
Victoria,
First of all thank you. Second of all, please hang in there. You aren't alone and there are more of us out there then you would think. Thank you for introducing yourself and thank you for sharing with me a bit of your life. You will be in our thoughts. Best of luck and PLEASE remember that you aren't alone.
ROb
I'm so sorry–not about the XBox–but the sacrifice it represents. We just made the difficult decision to have my husband quit his job to provide therapy for our youngest. We can't really afford it, but it must be done. You are not alone.
I had to make that same decision a few years ago. Not an easy decision but you do what you have to for your kids. I wish you the best of luck as I know that kind of change is NOT easy.