Assisting vs. Enabling Your Neurodivergent Child |
Have you ever been told that by assisting your child, you're enabling them? I've heard this time and time again, especially years ago, from teachers at my neurodivergent daughter's high school. I have endless stories to share, but two stick out.
One day, my daughter’s eyeglasses broke, so I grabbed a replacement pair and brought them to her in between classes. Another day, she forgot to pack her lunch, so I made another quick trip to the school. In my opinion, I don't believe that I was enabling my daughter; I prefer to think that I assisted her as her parent. Well, the teachers thought otherwise and made it a point to share their feedback. Both instances gave me pause. Am I supposed to go about my day knowing that she can't read in class or will go hungry, especially being on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medicine? Considering she also has anxiety, I believe I prevented her from having panic attacks in a school where she felt very vulnerable. I know most teachers are trying to be helpful, but at the end of the day, I know my........