What happens when your children don’t meet society’s expectations for development and behavior?

Rebecca and Wendy agreed to an interview for last month’s “Motherhood in the 21st Century” episode, but as soon as we began to talk, it was clear that their perspectives as mothers were worth exploring in more depth. We only used first names, because although their children are now young adults, these two moms are still engaged in helping their children navigate the world.

“What to Expect”-style books are very popular amongst moms, and for good reason. Most children follow relatively closely to what we expect from them. Other children are different in ways that are easily defined. But some children deviate from the norm in ways that create great struggle: for caregivers, educators, medical professionals, and most of all, the parents raising them. In this episode, Wendy and Rebecca detail the struggle to get support for their children, the toll it took on their own sense of self, and the growth and understanding that they achieved in the process of helping them to adulthood.

Special thanks go out to Wendy and Rebecca for taking the time to speak about their experiences with such empathy, critical awareness, and hope. Wendy and Rebecca met at a support group led by NAMI. Please visit their website if you or anyone you know is struggling with mental health challenges—their own or a family member’s.

[View transcript]

Acknowledgements:

Berceuse No. 1 by Dorothea Baker, from IMSLP, The Petrucci Music Library, performed by the composer. She is an Australian composer, musician, and technologist.

Photo by Sage Friedman on Unsplash.