My Daughter's Hypotonia is not My Fault.

Even before my daughter was diagnosed with Hypotonia I had been blamed for her inability to walk.  "You carry her to much, she is always in a stroller she needs to walk on her own, and my favorite she needs to play outside for at least 60 mins a day."  These comments were made by people who care and even doctors.  They were meant to be helpful but they were not. They left me feeling even more frustrated and bad about my parenting skills.  

I now know her disabilities are NOT MY FAULT (well, genetically they really are) I still look for affirmation of this all of the time.   I constantly ask Doctors, Her PT and anyone who is familiar with Hypotonia to remind me it is not my fault.

 I often struggle with the question am I doing enough to help her?  I don't know the answer to that.  

I often talk to her PT about things we can be doing at home to build her strength.  Do I do them?  NO!  My daughter fights me on everything and by the time I add the exercises to the list I am worn out.  Occasionally when I am feeling like a Super Mom I come up with creative ways to do the exercises but that is few and far between, maybe like twice in the last year.  

One thing I do know is that feeling this way isn't good for anyone.  Myself or my daughter.  She is now 5 and is starting to become aware that she can't keep up with other kids and is embarrassed about the size of her belly.  In addition to me helping her physically it is my job to help her emotionally.  She needs to be a confident kid who accepts her weaknesses and focuses on her strengths because she has many.  

This post is just a reminder to myself and others of this fact.  Everyone has a weakness and I think parents are wired to blame themselves (that is before your sweet child turns into a teenager and they start blaming us for everything, then we can finally defend ourselves!). Remember always.....

"Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it." Charles R. Swindoll