Being a parent is hard, full stop. And I know that this month we put a lot of focus on mothers and next month is reserved for dads, but, even during those months, parenting doesn’t slow down for moms or dads. It trudges on with all of its blessings and challenges.
For some parents, though, those challenges can be even more than the typical everyday struggles of raising a child. Many parents these days are also raising kids with developmental disabilities. According to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, about one in 44 children has been identified with autism spectrum disorder. That means that, chances are, you know a family living out this reality.
That is certainly the case for author Matthew Chicoine, who talks about the challenges and blessings of raising two sons with disabilities in the article “Parenting Kids with Autism.” Chicoine says his faith is a comfort for himself and provides a connection with his sons.
But don’t worry, we haven’t forgotten about mothers. In the article “Hail Mary, Full of Grace,” author Colleen C. Mitchell reflects on Mother Mary’s acceptance of God’s plan of salvation for the world and what that means for our own spiritual calling.
This month, we lift up all those parents—moms and dads—who are doing their best to raise their children, despite all the hurdles they face.
