New Addition!!
Welcoming a newborn into this world was the most amazing experience,but my son has down syndrome. I am going back to work soon and I wanted to know, if there are any other mother's who has with through balancing work and having a special needs child? Are there tips that can help me with this transition?
Congrats on your new baby! Managing work and children with special needs is a dilemma affecting more and more families everyday. I know it was a huge challenge for my sister when she had her first born. Having family members close to home helped her out tremendously when she went back to work and also helped the family grow closer so his birth was a blessing. Ask for work from home flexibility options before going back to work.
Is there an Easter Seals in your area, they do great work and hands on with disabled kids to adults. My nephew has Autism and he went while he was young. They helped out with him so much. He now is graduate from high school on his way to college. That's just my opinion. But try and find and make sure you do your homework on these other places claiming what Easter seals offer. Check out Easter seals also. Just be very thorough which ever way you decide to go.
I would suggest to check, if there any programs for special needs children near your area to make the transition better.
Congratulations on your new baby Leslie! That's super exciting!
I can relate to your experience to a large extent. I do not have children myself, but I have two younger siblings with autism. When we were growing up, my mom worked from home mostly, with the occasional business meeting that she had to travel for, and my dad retired early so that he could spend extra time taking care of them. I know this approach is not feasible for everyone, but I agree that asking about work from home flexibility options would probably be wise. And if you have any family or friends in the area that you trust, they can be a huge help too.
Also, as others have said, definitely look into special needs organizations in your area, such as Easter Seals, religious organizations (if you would be open to that kind of thing), or even your local YMCA. There are also organizations out there that help people with Down Syndrome specifically, such as the National Down Syndrome Congress (https://www.ndsccenter.org/) and National Down Syndrome Society (http://www.ndss.org/), among many others. See if they have chapters in your area.
Lastly, over time, you will discover what exactly your child needs, because special needs affect every child differently, so you can pivot your care strategies accordingly.
Good luck and I'm sure you're going to be a wonderful parent! :)