No "One size fits all"......

We'd like to say that in telling our stories and experiences, we firmly believe that there is no "one size fits all" approach to anything and that the decisions and choices we've made along the way have been right for us, but may not be for everyone. From the moment we found out Nick has CP and then later his hearing loss, we've read every book we could find and spend a great deal of time seeking resources, talking to others and finding out "what is out there". With CP, there is a "wide range" of functioning levels and impairments. Any services or therapies we've secured for Nick and our approach to things have been what we feel are the right ones for Nick and our family. They may not be for others. We've found other things out there that have not been right for us. That is OK! It's important to share information so people can be aware of options and maybe get ideas from others. Sometimes, when we've tried things, it has been a "trial and error" approach and it may or may not end up being right for Nick or us.
We attended a support group that someone with VERY GOOD intentions put together at Nick's therapy provider. The idea was great and needed but we ended up eventually not

attending because other parents were "comparing" their child's level of impairment with Nick's. We thought, "do you get a gold star because your son or daughter is more or less disabled than ours?" It was just not right for us but others found it very helpful and that is GREAT. Looking back, we appreciate the opportunity to meet other parents and find out what we did and did not want from support networks. We think it is important for parents to support each other, even if we do not agree on approaches or therapies for our children, what is right for one family or individual may not be right for another. The important thing (to us) is that we ALL find what works for us and share information and experiences. That will lead us to talk about "support" more later.

All of that applies to this blog as well. We are sharing what we've experienced and are experiencing with Nick and his CP. It may or may not be right for anyone else. And that is OK!!