I recently found out about an excellent respite center close to my home. Like many great services I learned by word of mouth. Two Moms’ I met at a playgroup both mentioned this center to me asking me if I took Livi. The whole thing sounded like heaven to me. It’s like the universe was pointing me in the right direction just when cabin fever and the terrible twos where taking a toll on me. Whenever I get hints like that… several people just coincidently mentioning the very same program I take that as a big hint. They explained the program to me. They told me that twice a month at different times they drop off their children for a few hours with people qualified to deal with special needs and while they get a much needed breather.


I did not know what the guidelines were for qualifying. I knew the other Mom’s were facing more serious special needs than I was. What could it hurt to ask about it? I placed a phone call to my service coordinator knowing from my past experience that these type of funded places work by referral system and I was right… a referral was needed. My service coordinator faxed me a questionnaire. I filled it out and faxed it back. The respite center was supposed to contact me within 3 days, but they had a big change of staff and my paperwork got lost somehow. I waited three weeks and finally started calling and figured that we needed to resend everything. So finally we were approved for one respite session weekly and so far we have gone three times.


I drop Livi off at 9 am… spend about 20 min playing with her & do my paperwork and I’m supposed to return by 12.15 to allow time for transition and paperwork . I typically come and get her much sooner so I can have her home for lunch & nap. It has been a real blessing finding out about this respite center. So far I have enjoyed a hot interrupted lunch, a shopping trip where I actually got to try on clothes, and time to make appointments and run errands child free. Best of all Livi loves it… the ratio is really low- six children to three adults. There is paperwork each time I come, but I understand that’s needed for outcome indicators and to continue to receive funding for this free program.






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