Just wondering what other parents here struggle with raising children with this illness.
For me personally it’s a bunch of things. all the social interaction that goes with having children. Like birthday parties and school runs seeing other parents and having to interact. Makes me feel like I’m holding a dark secret.
I also struggle with discrimination that comes up on a regular basis from people who should know better. Like health professionals who seem to think people like us shouldn’t breed.
Also paranoia of having my children taken away.
Daily worries. It’s a battle. However I don’t regret having them. For me the ultimate experience in my life was creating and birthing life.
@WONDERER I totally get this. I live in a small village in the UK and even I am worried about sending them to school. If I lived in a big city in the US I would be worried sick with all the shootings going on.
I recently emailed the school my son attends to ask what security is in place.
I thought about home schooling mine. A few months ago actually when my son came back and told me that girls can be boys and boys can be girls (he’s 4). I asked
him who said this and he said his teacher.
Don’t get me wrong I love his school. It’s a good school but in my eyes he is too young to learn about this.
I just masked my way through their primary years. Id vanish at times when my illness was bad, and luckily 1 or 2 parents “in the know” would assist me with runs. The Headmistress and certain teachers knew the deal. Very accommodating actually. But other parents, those who didn’t know me personally, I was always taken for as a wild character, quirky, different but funny…. so I managed to slip under the radar. In their secondary school years, the teachers are more clued in thanks to Early Help and other support agencies. Sometimes Im pleasant with the school, other times I can be very difficult. These lot are more nervous and unsettled around me.
Parenting just comes natural to me. Its all Ive known as an adult. I often make the right choices, and we roll with the bad ones. Early Help services noted that the 4 of us are extremely close and communicate well together. Important stuff - communication. Sometimes I fail at that. Sometimes they fail. Its all a journey.
I’m so deeply disgusted by the idea that we shouldn’t breed because of schizophrenia. It’s basically Nazism. My mother among others has expressed concern about me having children and I think it’s just gross as could be.
The chances of one schizophrenic and a normie having a baby that develops sz is relatively small. I dont remember the exact percentage. I have looked into it before. I think its less than 10%? It jumps up considerably if 2 sz’s have a child.
But yeah, I agree with you. I mean, who should be making a decision like that? Who has the right?
The thought of being their for a child through out schooling years and adolescence has made me rethink wanting to be a parent. I’m not cut out for that, I can hardly give all my effort to studies - I don’t think I’ll have children - an epiphany for me
Its basically the view that was widely accepted by ALL in the world (at the time) bar guess who? Germany. In Dr Eugen Bleuler’s book, he advocated for eugenics for “our kind”. Sad stuff. Particularly as it’s still a held view among certain classes.
Because I was young when my daughter was born, she was over 18 when I first had symptoms. But I wish I had been a better mother and not gone to school until she was in school and made her my priority instead of school.
Don’t let your disorder take away your sense of accomplishment. I think we all just have to work a little harder than the folks without diagnoses.
Also regardless of the state of the world I’m super glad I was brought into it. My mom almost didn’t have me, and I always tell her that no matter how much I’m suffering, I’m glad I’m here. Even with the schizoaffective. Life is awesome.
