Children’s Mental Health: How to Navigate Life on the Spectrum as a Parent

No one plans for life to go topsy-turvy, but it can. No one plans to have a sick child, but it happens. No one prepares for the autism spectrum, but one in forty-four are diagnosed. As we navigate into tomorrow, it must be remembered that God has already been in our tomorrow, mapping out our path and meeting our needs.

He must become our compass, our forever north star, continuously pointing us to the Father. We must arm our hearts and minds with this attitude. We can because He is our tomorrow, our trustworthy confidant.

Each day as a parent we should begin with prayer and devotion to God. Commune with Him. Keep the line of communication going. God understands life, its ebb and flow, and He also understands autism. He understands and hears the noise, and even the loud silence of a nonverbal, yet demanding child. He is God of all, even of this spectrum.

He appreciates and covets our time, even the 2-3-minute plea of a desperate mom or dad. He loves us enough to usher in grace for whatever the day may hold. A day in the life of a special needs caregiver absolutely must contain time with God. Give yourself grace. God sees you trying, He reads your tears, He’s waiting on you, and is understanding of your hurried thoughts.

Scripture for the struggles

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” – 2 Corinthians 12:9, ESV

The Lord always hears and answers His people sooner or later, in one form or another, though not always in the way and manner we desire; yet in such a way as is most for His glory and our good. He sees what we don’t and somewhere nestled between what we see with our natural eyes and what we believe He knows is a blanket of grace that covers us until our faith becomes sight.

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” – Deuteronomy 31:6, ESV

What’s the scariest thing you’ve encountered? A diagnosis is sure tough. It is one thing to say, “Don’t be afraid.” But terror is a powerful force that can seize us and render us powerless to act. That is why the second half of this verse is so important; it gives the motive and power to be strong and courageous. In other words, the Lord is with Israel as a warrior. Imagine the courage that comes from entering battle with the strongest, most powerful swordsman at your side!

Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. – 1 Peter 5:7, ESV

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. – Proverbs 3:5, ESV

How do we cast our burdens on Him? How do we give Him our anxieties and concerns? How do we trust Him with all our hearts, laying aside our own reasoning? Well, it all comes back to trusting all that the Lord has promised in His precious Word and expecting Him to fulfill His Word. We are to expect Him to answer our prayer, but He will do so in His time and in His way, for our greater benefit and His greater glory. He’s working all for our benefit.

The Lord is working in each of our lives from an eternal perspective and we should develop the attitude that Christ demonstrated throughout His earthly life, as He submitted to the Father, “Thy will be done in my life,” was His heartfelt prayer. Jesus is the greatest example of a Romans 8:28 faith!

As we rest our heads on our pillow, may we as well rest our hearts. Let’s lay it all at His feet! Is anything too hard for God? No! Not even the spectrum is beyond Him.

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30, ESV

When it comes to raising a child with autism, the struggles are seemingly inevitable. We will deal with meltdowns. We will deal with judgment from those around us, strangers and loved ones alike, who don’t know what it’s like.

For many of us, we will deal with regressions and moments of aggression. We will worry about our children’s futures. We will worry about IEPs and school placements. We will worry about our children making friends or being bullied.

We imagine our lives and theirs ten, twenty, or thirty years from now. We worry and plan for who will care for them in our absence. We create real-life lessons and train them how to navigate the grocery aisles, return the cart, or read price tags and count money, and all the while we quietly wish we were shopping alone.

We wish for a tiny break; a piece of normal. Instead, we soberly grasp every second of training to help them become anything other than blank and void. Raising a child with autism can truly be physically, spiritually, and mentally draining. But it doesn’t have to be spiritually draining. We have hope and assurance at our fingertips. We have a whisper of hopeful prayer. Cling to Him, His Word, and His way.

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