Some Mother’s Day thoughts the day after Mother’s Day

I am very excited that yesterday was my first Mother’s Day.  In fact, it was a great day! At the same time, I got to thinking about some things that were a bit troubling to me…

Everything I have read since before my son was born talks about the burden parents with a disability are to their children.  How the only options available to adults who have different types of disabilities are sterilization or abortions.  I am not at all saying that I agree with either one of these avenues in the slightest.  These are not the only two methods of birth control available for people who do not have a disability.   The other options available to the general public should be shared with those who have a disability too.  All I am saying is that everyone should be able to choose the method of birth control that works best for them. 

In the case of sterilization, a lot of parents have this procedure done to their children at a young age,  before the children become adults and have the opportunity to decide for themselves.  As I said in my last post, everyone should have the opportunity to practice self-determination in their lives.  That is, they should have the opportunity to make decisions for themselves.  In my experience, there are always ways to explain things to people, even with different disabilities, so that they can make their own choices.

Just because a person has a disability does not mean they should not have the opportunity to be a parent.  A person with a disability may need some modifications done in certain areas so that they can accomplish the daily activities involved with taking care of a child.  They may even need some assistance doing some things with that child, but no one except the person themselves should make the decision of whether or not to have children.

Being a parent is one of the best jobs in the world!  Sometimes people who have a disability even turn out to be better parents than it was originally thought they could be.

Would it be fair for you not to have the right to have a child because you were different in some way from someone else?

Thanks for reading..

cr