Guest writer Laura Pearson is passionate about teaching the younger generation. Edutude was built to share resources on how to keep children engaged and in love with learning.

Being a parent to a special needs child comes with unique rewards, stressors, and responsibilities. You have to protect and empower your child, as do parents of other children. While immersing yourself in achieving all that entails, you will likely experience fatigue. This article from Laura Pearson explains how parents of special needs children can assess their fatigue and offers some self-care ideas for dealing with it.

Signs of Parental Fatigue

As a parent of a special needs child, you may often be tired or depressed because you have little or no time for self-care. The following are signs of parental fatigue:

• Changes in sleeping patterns, energy levels, and mood

• Oversleeping

• Disengaging from hobbies

• Reluctance to socialize

• Anger and frustration about your child’s disability

• Lack of self-care

If you have experienced any of the above signs, it's time to change your lifestyle for the better.

Tips for Parents with Special Needs Children

The emotional impact of handling a special needs child is enormous. However, the following self-care ideas will help you manage fatigue.

Get Support

Consider joining a group of parents of children with special needs. Such a group will provide relief as you share your issues with people who understand and relate to them. It will also help you gain first-hand information from people who have been through similar situations. There are many local organizations for families with disabled children that provide great resources. Look for one in your area.

Pursue Personal and Business Goals

Setting goals such as pursuing academic studies, enhancing your resume, and spending more time with your loved ones is instrumental in fighting fatigue. You can choose an online course that allows you to attend to your child and study part-time. Finding the balance between your child and your personal needs gives you more energy and helps you stay motivated.

Set aside time each day to do something you love. It might be something you can involve your child in, like music or art, or something you get “me time” to engage in alone. You may even find that you are able to turn this passion into a side business - something that refreshes you while also generating some extra money. Starting a business can even be done on a budget. The cost of establishing an LLC, which is the most common business structure, is relatively low.

What’s more, you can find plenty of marketing materials online that are inexpensive or even free. Make sure you start with a logo or banner that carries your brand across multiple platforms. And with current technology, you can enjoy banner design made easy! There are templates that you can customize to create a unique and personalized logo without ever taking a design class.

Take Care of Yourself

Take care of your physical and mental health by establishing limits on your chores and work. Create time for exercising, drink a lot of water, and practice yoga and meditation. Ensure you have time for your friends, hobbies, and get 7 to 9 hours of sleep every night.

Create a Personal Fatigue Care Plan

Once you notice fatigue is creeping in, take swift action to avoid burn-outs. Look for a 'breather' activity such as massage therapy to help you think and refresh. Find ways to revamp your child’s routine to create more time for yourself.

While creating the plan, be sure that you create a balance in your activities to avoid unwanted outcomes. For instance, hire a caregiver and spare some time for yourself.

Explore Therapy

You need to be in a stable mental state to take good care of your child. Fatigue can result in feelings of anger towards your child, self-harm thoughts, and depression. If you experience any of the above, consider seeking professional help. It’s challenging to parent a special needs child.

Addressing Fatigue Through Self-Care

Parenting a special needs child takes a lot of time, energy, and patience, and you will often experience fatigue. Look for resources in your community that offer resources on how to effectively parent a special needs child while also taking good care of yourself.

Parenting is hard, but it’s important to cherish the time you have together. One great way to connect with your child is through storytime. Pam Saxelby writes incredible children’s books that capture your imagination, but also address emotions. Learning to talk about our emotions is an important life skill for all of us, and her books allow the opportunity to develop these skills with our children. Check out her beautiful books online today.