How Do You Do It?

I frequently get comments from other mom’s asking me, “How do you do it?” referring to taking care of Jenna’s “special needs.” (She has a MIC-KEY gastrostomy “button” that we attach a feeding tube and pump to several times a day. This is currently the only way she “eats.” The picture above is her wearing her feeding pump in a backpack with a tube feeding her.) I’m always a little bit taken by surprise by the question. I guess my answer is, “The same way every mom does it.” Just like I rarely think of Jenna as “different” or “special needs,” I rarely think of myself as different from other moms. Oh sure, I have those moments of feeling sorry for myself or feeling sorry for Jenna. I wouldn’t be honest if I didn’t ‘fess up to that. BUT, those moments are few and far between and I try to chase them away as soon as they come. The fact is that, just like most moms out there, I take one moment at a time. That’s right. THAT’S the secret!

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Psychmamma is the contributing editor for Special Medical Needs. She writes at Psychmamma where she covers life with Jenna, her "spunky little two year-old who was born with a triple intestinal atresia." Her blog is also the home of Special Needs Sundays.