Mom: Here's Why Sometimes the Best Word You Can Use Is "No" by Sarah Darrow

Sometimes being a parent of a child with special needs can be overwhelming. For some reason society as a whole has made us feel guilty for being honest about our own limitations as mothers. But really, let's take a moment to be honest here. In a world filled with acronyms (which we refer to as alphabet soup, no, really, we totally do!), between ADHD, ASD, OCD, CP, etc., when is it OK to say no? When are we allowed to acknowledge our own limitations, and to not feel like completely horrible human beings?

I said something unforgivable at a meeting a few months ago – I used the "B" word. No, not what you may be thinking. I simply stated, "Look, I am running on fumes and I am BURNT out!" It was like my words did not compute with anyone at the table. It was like I was saying I hated puppies or that I didn't want my child to succeed in life, but I knew that was not the case.

I smiled. I nodded. And I learned to exercise a word that most 2-year-olds love to use: NO. Sometimes we need to say it, and that does not make us terrible moms! It makes us wise! Don't question yourself and don't set yourself up for failure. Be you! You know your kids the best!