b'THE IMPACT OF YOUR SUPPORT CONTINUEDWhen asked about how she gets through a busy day with four active children, Mari refers to what she does as exaggerated parenting. Shes doing the same things as other parents, but everything is just a little bit tweaked; knowing whatever she has planned for the day, may change in a heartbeat. Her friends have come to understand that a parent who has kids with special needs may need more time to plan, may have to repeat things more often, or simply be flexible enough to adjust and improvise. Harold wants people to know that its important to be patient, and understand that everyones life is filled with constant change and uncertainty. That said, he reminds himself to enjoy the moment. Whether good or bad, enjoy it and know that you are blessed to be a part of a loving family.They both agree that there is a certain pressure to compare your children with others. They stress the importance of letting your expectations go, to push your kids to be the best they can be and enjoy the ride. They also agree that taking time away from caring for a child with special needs is an important part of maintaining a healthy outlook and a happy family. Thats where UCPs Family Respite comes in. Respite provides Harold and Mari with a time to replenish, rejuvenate and spend time with each other. The divorce rate is high for couples with kids with special needs. Having a support network you can rely on is life changing. We make sure we have a date night so we can reconnect. It may be as simple as a trip to Costco, but its time away, and thats important. says Mari.Theres a great level of comfort knowing we can leave the house with a qualified respite worker looking after our children. Handling kids with special needs is challenging, but UCPs respite workers take that worry away, adds Harold. We want parents to know its okay to be scared and unsure of what to do after learning your child has special needs, but dont withdraw. Theres a wide variety of resources out there to help support you and navigate the road ahead. UCPs Family Respite care is one of them. They understand, and theyve been by our side, allowing us to thrive as a family. Reach out to them if you need a rest. Its a break you deserve to take.6|2018-2019 Annual Report'