WeKidz: One Mother’s Journey to Hope and Healing, and How She is Helping Others Find Their Way

by | Aug 12, 2020 | Disability, Parenting

In an earlier post I talked about the heroes we meet on our journey as special needs parents. We find those sparkling gems, courageous mothers, teachers and professionals, and we help each other along the way.

Today I’m excited to share a story with you about one such mother. Like most of us, Tina Karimian was scared when she learned that her son, Kelvin had special needs, but this brave mama only let it fuel her drive to learn what she needed to help her child succeed. Now, she runs We Kidz, an organization that exists to help other families navigate the world of special needs parenting and give their children the best.

Tina and Kelvin, confident and living their best life!

“From the beginning, when I found out my son was not able to talk or respond, I got depressed. I blamed myself…a lot. At one point I decided to make changes, but I didn’t know what to do or where to start.” Once the initial shock and grief process passed, Tina knew the only thing she could do was act. She went to the fight for her child, and started winning, although it was an uphill climb.

“I mixed spiritual healing with academic practices to boost …my son’s development, and I was quite successful. Next month, he will be 6 years old and he is now able to talk, listen to instruction, read, write and attend school!” Those victories spurred Tina on in her passion and she developed a vision to help other families succeed.

Tina’s vision utilizes a holistic approach to parenting. On the website, www.globalwekidz.com, you can find everything from parenting tips to information on fine and gross motor skill development, cognitive delays, exercises to help your child, parenting tips, fun activities and educational resources, and so much more.

Have creative fun along the way!

The beautiful thing about We Kidz is that it’s not only for families of children with special needs! There are resources here that any parent will find useful and helpful for all developmental stages. You can even sponsor a child so that other families can reap the benefits of the We Kidz program! And of course, you can also subscribe to this personal and caring support system.

I love it. I can relate so much to Tina’s journey, maybe you can too. I remember like it was yesterday the day I noticed something wasn’t alright about my baby. Thus began the terrifying process of searching for a diagnosis, and hearing those words no mother expects to hear. I felt so alone and like Tina, I used to blame myself. If something like this program had been available to me when my son was diagnosed, I could have felt so much less alone in the process. That is what Tina wants to give to other families, the hope and knowledge that they are not alone.

“I started this business only because of my son,” — or so she thought. Tina says, “As I learned and experienced, I realized it was about me…I have confidence that if it worked for my son, it can work for other children too. As parents, we take the first step, work towards our children’s goals and stay consistent. The program we designed is all about educating parents and providing them with strategies and activities to help them in their journey.”

As parents I think we all can relate to that defining moment when we realized that our own determination to help our child the best way we could is their main ingredient to reaching their goals. Most of us who have children living with disability and special needs know how accurate Tina’s words are, “it was all about me.”

Maybe you are at the starting gate right now, you recently received your child’s diagnosis and are feeling overwhelmed and unsure where to turn or how to begin. You are not alone. You don’t have to figure it all out by yourself. Reach out to other special needs parents, comment below, and reach out to Tina and We Kidz. There are so many of us who have been where you are now. It gets better. There are days it will feel like the fight of your life, because it is, but we want you to know: you can do this!

Listen to Tina explain We Kidz in her own words here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0uyv-SrWeA

Visit We Kidz online here to learn more about what We Kidz has to offer, and how you can make a difference for your child or for others. Check out www.globalwekidz.com, meet my friend Tina and find companionship on your parenting journey.

Reading is a magic key that takes you where you want to be!

Special Siblings, Extraordinary Love

by | Aug 11, 2020 | Disability

My son who lives with disability, Bug*, was born first. Three years later when his brother came along he wasn’t sure at all what to think! Definitely used to being attached at my hip (literally) most of the day and night, this tiny intruder upset the apple cart just a hair. Then, Bean* learned to smile. Bug couldn’t stop laughing at this squirmy little jelly ball smiling up at him. It was love.

This pattern continued as Bean learned to crawl, then toddle, then run! Boy did he run! Ever patient with Bug, who can do little on his own physically, Bean soon learned to pick up toys and place them on his tray. He soon became willing to give up his own TV show if Bug began grumbling or banging his head. He became very good at “go get Mommy a diaper for Bug” and would rush to the rescue, our mini superhero!

I would praise him for being such a good helper and caring brother…and then…I would get that pang.

You know.

The question every mom asks herself in this situation.

“Is Bean going to resent Bug?”

Hungry for material on the topic, I turned to some online blogs and parenting magazines. (We lived overseas at the time and didn’t have ready access to a library). I poured over all of the fairy tales and the horror stories chronicled in the great wide web. I put every piece of advice to work.

Most of all, I just tried to love my boys well all day every day (and night, let’s be real).

I spent time with them, reading, taking walks, cuddling, dancing silly, and of course the inevitable PT and OT. I made sure to try and spend time with Bean one-on-one in the hopes that he wouldn’t resent Bug, while still giving Bug all he needed.

I didn’t get everything perfect. I beat myself up every time I didn’t.

Never gave up trying though.

I was just beginning to feel like a circus juggler, at least starting to balance it all, when Bunny* came along. She hopped into the world agianst all odds, the story of her survival is one for another post — or book. God gets the glory. A more wanted child was never born, though all three of mine were–are–equally wanted.

As she grew that same question burned in the back of my mind, it became the voice of all my mom guilt. How do I juggle without dropping someone? No one can fall through the cracks.

Spoiler alert: I didn’t have to worry at all!

Bean and Bunny make a darling pair. They love to help Bug out, never with a hint of resentment, and they are each other’s best friends. I didn’t have to fight for that or force it. It was in their hearts all along. What was I so worried about? (If only I had a nickel for every time I’ve spoken those words as a mother!)

Think I figured out how to balance it all? Think again! Life just ebbs and flows. Some days we make it, some days we’re just glad not to break it.

And guess what the best thing about that is? The kids learn this too.

Special kids and special siblings become resilient. They grow and learn from each other. I will never forget the moment Bean, at five, had a friend over and confidently explained, “That’s Bug. He doesn’t walk or talk or anything, but it’s ok. You can say hi to him!” I knew then that I had no more to worry about. He wasn’t jealuos, he was going to be his brother’s greatest advocate.

A couple years down the line, Bean says to me, “Mom when you get too old to take care of Bug anymore I’m going to take care of him. Because I’m going to be big and strong to lift him by then.” I couldn’t keep the tears from showing that time (although I assured him that my growing old was a long way off — well, not that long).

Today Bunny, who is about to start kindergarten (look out, world, she’s a warrior queen!) , said to me, “Hey Mom, you know what? Some people talk and some people don’t and some people talk with their tablets.” She was referring to the tablet with a communication program that Bug uses to make his thoughts and feelings known. Then she added matter-of-factly, “That’s just how it is!”

You know what?

Life is uncertain. Love the people around you.

Like special siblings do. That’s just how it is!

* not their real names