Self-Care for the Special Needs Parent: Why It’s Not Selfish

"Self-care" sounds like a spa day. For parents like us, a spa day might as well be a trip to Mars. We don't have time for facials.

But self-care isn't luxury; it's maintenance. It's the oxygen mask on the airplane.

• Micro-Moments: Five minutes of coffee in silence before the house wakes up.
• The "No" Muscle: Declining an invitation because you just don't have the bandwidth. That is self-care.
• Asking for Help: This is the hardest one. But people want to help; they often just don't know how. Be specific. "Could you watch him for 20 minutes while I shower?"

You matter. Not just as a caregiver, but as a person. Take the breath.