Yesterday’s sermon was on Jesus being tempted in the wilderness. The pastor pointed out something I hadn’t really considered before…Jesus was alone. He was alone in the wilderness for 40 days. Yes, he was without food and hungry. But the point was that he was infinitely more susceptible to temptation because he was ALONE.

With that thought, my mind began wandering to parents of special needs children. We are so often alone, or think we are. Alone in the wilderness. No one else is dealing with the same issues as we are, no one else understands.

For me, this tempts me into despair, self-pity, depression. I need the support of other parents around me, to shore me up, to keep me afloat. This is as much for accountability, as for support. We have to have someone who understands our situation, lives it along side up, to keep tabs on us.

The pastor talked about this in a spiritual growth sense and really centered on accountability partners for things like marital fidelity. But I think the same applies to therapeutic parenting. And that’s what I believe good listserves and support groups can do. They can be a sounding board for “what do you think I should do?” questions. AND can serve as a great place to vent when you “just can’t take it anymore!”

I encourage all parents of special needs children to NOT GO IT ALONE! Find someone to partner with for accountability and support. (Not your spouse. The two of you have enough to work on just keeping your lives and marriage going…) Reach out. It not only helps to lessen the temptation, but it’s very therapeutic and healing to help someone else navigate through the same valleys you’ve traveled.

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