What does respite care do for YOU?
Give you a break from negative behaviours.
As a parent parenting a child with extreme trauma behaviours there will be times when you don't like your child. You love them to the moon and back, but you don't always like them. Getting a break from their negative push-away behaviours will help you to get to a place where you like your child as well as love them.
Gives you a chance to catch up on sleep.
Therapeutic parenting is exhausting. You live in chaos and confusion, you worry about your child's future, your family's safety, and how you're going to find help for their healing. It takes a toll on you emotionally, mentally, and physically. You might be suffering from depression or anxiety or secondary PTSD (or all 3!). ALL of this causes loss of sleep or lack of restful sleep. Respite time is an opportunity for you to catch up on sleep and rest. (If you have other children in the home arrange for them to spend the night with family or friends so you can sleep uninterrupted.)
Gives you the opportunity to rest your brain and heart.
Trying to constantly stay a step ahead of your child, brainstorm new interventions or plans, and having your heart hurt by a child who pushes you away... really hurts. Your brain and heart both need time to rest and heal. Time when you don't have to be on high-alert and hyper-focussed on what everyone is doing. Time when your heart can rest and fill up again.
Gives you the opportunity to catch up with friends and family.
Parenting a child with RAD can be very isolating. To stay sane you need to spend time with sane adults, talking about sane adult things - NOT about your kids, NOT about parenting, NOT about you need to do and get done.
*For those still in lockdown, plan a virtual get-together or phone call. Play a game, eat snacks, browse vacation destinations together, enjoy each others company.
