Schizoaffective Disorder – Rear View Mirrors and the Parenting Peanut Gallery

I am a single parent of two special needs children. My daughter, who is 15, was recently diagnosed with PTSD and Schizoaffective Affective Disorder. My son, who is 9, has speech/language delays, selective mutism, and social anxiety disorder.

This month has been rough and it is only six days old.  Actually, I think some of the frustration that I felt yesterday was residual frustration from the last two weeks.  When I taught 3rd grade, I always told my students to keep their eyes focused on what was in front of them and not behind them.  “Use the windshield, not the rearview mirror” I said.  “Trust yourself.  Just because someone else finishes first doesn’t mean they got it right.” I use to tell them –if only I could live by this advice.

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