What SPD Parents Want You To Know
1. SPD is not just parents making excuses for behavior problems in school
2. Our kids are not "bad kids"
3. Our kids do not "lack discipline"
4. You can not "spank the behaviors out of them"
5. We are not making excuses for bad behaviors
6. "One size fits all" parenting does not work with SPD
7. It is real. It changes. It shifts. It morphs. Just because something was fine one moment, doesn't mean it will be fine the next
8. It can be extremely challenging to live with as well as to parent a child who has it
9. It cause extreme reactions, behaviors, and anxiety
10. Small accomplishments in overcoming SPD issues are huge for kids and families
11. SPD does exist!
12. If you see a child having a meltdown in the store, it's not because they're being a brat. It could be sensory overload
13. A meltdown is not a tantrum
14. Our kids are not weird, or bad. Don't judge, & educate yourself!
15. Change is scary for children with SPD
16. Children with SPD feel like they need to be in constant motion or odd positions like upside down
17. Some food they just can not eat, sometimes it's the texture sometimes it's the sight
18. They won't eat eventually when they are hungry enough
19. SPD is not something they just out grow
20. Be inclusive; someone's path through these woods may not be visible to you, be patient. Their path is just as beautiful and full of potential as the one you can see
21. Malicious opinions are not acceptable and simply being supportive and understanding is very appreciated
22. Children with SPD are not giving us a hard time, they are having a hard time
23. Sounds and smells cause our children meltdown
24. It does not affect everyone the same way
25. Reading about SPD is different than living with it
26. SPD is not "curable"
27. Symptoms or "triggers" may change over time as the child gets older as they are exposed to new/different things & settings
28. Children with SPD are not "spoiled" and they do not do it for attention
29. Children with SPD are still amazing kiddos with lots of love to give and receive
30. You are never too young to have SPD. Please don't tell us to give our children more time. Saying "all kids go through things like this" is NOT helpful as we are doubting what we think and you are making those doubts worse
31. We are not bad parents because we cannot control our children sometimes
32. We are good parents because we try our best
33. We wouldn't change them for the world, but we sometimes wish we could change the world for them
34. SPD is a disability
35. Please don't brag to us about how well your child does and how he/she is exceeding expectations with things. It can be hurtful. Just because they are not exceeding levels expected of them doesn't mean they are not exceeding and overcoming lots on a daily basis
36. Don't judge us parents, but support us and encourage us
37. It is not their age
38. SPD is exhausting
39. SPD kids do what typical kids do and they do what SPD kids do, too
40. Either help us parents or get out of the way, please
41. When it looks like our children are spacing out and unable to focus, they are actually trying to process sensations and feelings
42. Understand that our children are smart, beautiful, kind and caring. They are compassionate and have huge hearts
43. Kids (and parents of) have feelings too
44. Do not define our children from a disability
45. SPD is an independent disorder which affects various aspects of how our children function on a daily basis
46. We have good days and bad days
47. We parent our children based on our child's individual needs
48. Girls and boys can have SPD
49. We wish SPD would be recognized so that our children could have things modified in school based on the child's needs
50. We would love for people to learn facts about SPD
51. If you don't like the way a shirt feels on your body you change it. If you don't like a certain food you don't eat it. If you don't like a color, you don't paint a room with it. So don't think we are spoiling our kids who don't like those things either
52. Change is not always good. Change is very difficult for children with SPD
53. Please stop telling us that if we spanked our kids more often that they wouldn't act like this
54. SPD doesn't have a "look"
55. Kids with SPD may only eat certain foods or wear certain clothes
56. Parents have not done anything wrong. This is just the uniqueness of our children
57. SPD is a disorder that you cannot physically see. What may look like defiance is actually the child's inability to cope with his overwhelming environment
58. SPD doesn't just affect the kids, but everyone around them. Adults can also have SPD
59. We are the voice for our children
60. Children aren't the only ones affected by SPD. Sometimes the parent AND child can both have SPD and trigger each other
61. Children with SPD may use weighted blankets for calming. They crave pressure
62. Many children with SPD have a very high IQ and are gifted
63. Until you walk a mile in OUR shoes, DO NOT JUDGE!
64. SPD can be can be debilitating
