Living with a Handicapped Brother

If you have ever seen someone that is handicapped then you can understand how difficult everyday challenges can be for those people. The challenges however are not only faced but the handicapped, but also by their loved ones. When I say handicapped I don't just mean people in a wheelchair. I mean everyone that has some sort of disease that doesn't allow that person to do normal everyday things that you and I can do. These disabilities can include ADD, Autism, and many other diseases that no person should ever have to go through.

The biggest thing you need to do when living with a handicapped brother or family member is make sure that they know they are loved. Love is the biggest thing. Without love, anyone would crumble, even those that don't have a disease. Those however with a disease need to know that they are loved, especially if they know they are handicapped. People that know they are handicapped tend to get down on themselves a lot more than any other person. They feel that they can never do anything right and that they are only hurting their loved ones. The worst thing for anyone to believe is that they are hurting others, so it is important to reassure the person that they are loved, and that they are not hurting you in any way.

A second necessity when living with a handicapped child is patience. Patience is almost as important as love, and they actually affect one another. If you get very discouraged very quickly and express that to the child, they will begin to feel as if they aren't loved. Like I said not feeling loved is one of the worst things in the world. This is why patience is a must. You have to remember that the child is in fact handicapped, and cannot function as well as you. They are obviously going to have a tougher time completing everyday things. This is why you need to show them patience while helping them as much as you possibly can.

Showing a handicapped child that you love them and care dearly about them is the most important thing. A person that is not loved will start to get down on themselves and think that they are causing more harm then good. This is always a bad scenario as the handicapped child will become very upset and start wishing for things that no one should ever think about. I have experience living with a handicapped brother first hand, and have seen the ups and downs. I have also learned that you need to show that person your utmost love and care to make them feel better about themselves.