ABSTRACT
This chapter is based on interviews with 10 mothers, ranging in age from 19 to 45 and living in the Puget Sound area of Washington State. These women have neuromuscular or musculoskeletal disabilities and their children range in age from 11 months to adulthood. The chapter focuses on specific issues and concerns regarding early childhood management, and includes some discussion of prenatal and obstetrical care. It discusses common misconceptions concerning motherhood and disability. The traditional role of women as mothers is one of sole caretaker and nurturer of her children that is, feeding, dressing, chauffeuring, nursing, and disciplining. As society's expectations for mothers change, women in general are finding more parenting and support system options available to them that is, shared responsibility for child-rearing with partner or extended family, daycare centers, single parenting. Not only does the disabled mother benefit from these options, but she has a wealth of information and expertise to add to the spectrum of parenting.
