Krista is the mother of two from North Ridgeville.
 
What do you do to relax?
Read books and shop/browse at bargain/thrift stores.
 
What else would you like to tell us about yourself?
I have two sons both are special needs. They have different challenges. I am blessed to have a supportive family. I am thankful for special needs programs and organizations like CFK to gain insight and knowledge from others to help my husband and I best help our boys.
 
What benefits has Connecting for Kids brought to you and your family?
I am able to connect with other parents to give and receive advice and tips. It is this mutual support that helps as there are moments or days that can extremely challenging.
 
Which have been your favorite Connecting for Kids resources?
Our schedule is hectic with therapies and appointments. Online support has been a huge help and the resource we utilize the most.
 
If I could go back in time and talk to myself the day we got the diagnosis I would say...
Do not worry about what other people think. You need to be your kids' best advocate. Trust your gut and do whatever you have to without worrying how others will feel/react (therapists/teachers/doctors etc.) If you feel they aren't helping or don't agree with something, speak up and make changes or decisions to help your kids.
 
How parenting a child who struggles has changed my ideas on parenting...
There is no right or wrong way to parent. You just find out what works and approach it in whatever way that works best for you. What is considered typical isn't always realistic and doesn't need to be. I always say our life is our "normal" and it may not be right for other families but it is what works for us. I used to think let's get through life one day at a time...now it's more like one minute. Often times parenting two kids who struggle is overwhelming and you just have to deal with what is happening right that second, move on to the next and so on.
 
The hardest thing for me to learn was...
Stop comparing my children to others. Every child is unique and different and what works for one doesn't always work for another.