Sometimes I see a tv show about a child with extreme behavioral problems. I just saw a commercial for an upcoming show with a nine year old girl and her parents. They played a video of the girl where she was screaming, kicking and uncontrollable. Then a clip from the parents showed that the mother uses excessive force to restrain her and the father is beating her with a belt as punishment. And they really wonder why she can't be controlled?
I have a special needs son. My son is non-verbal. He can't tell me specific things/wants/needs. He has to work ten times or more as hard as other children to do basic things, yet he never *ever* gives up.
If my child has **no** behavioral issues while dealing with so many struggles, what is the explanation these parents can give? Yes, there can be chemical imbalances and issues that do require medication. So isn't it their job to have her checked for that? Isn't it their job to be using behavioral modification techniques instead of violence?
Crappy parents make me so angry sometimes. They have no clue what they have and what they're doing.
Being a decent parent can often mean asking for help when you need it. Hopefully you can swallow that pride and help your child before the age of nine. I've seen children just like this poor girl. I can promise you, the older the child the harder the road will be.
I've seen parents of children with special needs and parents of neurotypical children fail at this one basic principle. Don't Reward Bad Behavior. Write it down if you need to.
