I am a duck.

I am the parent of a child with special needs. I appear calm and placid in the water, but underneath the surface, I am paddling like crazy. Whether it is physical, emotional, financial, or some combination thereof, I am always trying to keep calm, but working as hard as possible, just to stay afloat and to keep moving forward. I am consistent and loyal, but am very exhausted, which often makes me bitter. I am constantly being pushed to the limit in trying to do it all, which feels like a never ending exercise in spinning plates. Spend more time at the office. Spend more time at home. Make more money. Keep producing. Do more, then do even more next time. Life has turned me into a tightly wound spool of wet yarn. I feel like I have to do everything to keep everyone happy.

I am exhausted and my gut is filled with rocks instead of bread.

I am a Fire Breathing Duck.

I am the parent of a child with special needs. I realize not everything is going to get done today. Maybe not tomorrow either. Eventually it might, but I am prepared that it may never be resolved completely, and I am willing to let it go if it doesn't. I strive to be a better person and am using my fire breathing skills to fend off anything trivial or irrelevant to focus solely on what is really important. I realize that I possess a simple, positive talent that can be used to help people. To keep people warm by lighting a fire. To create a light to help someone find their way. To fend off mosquitoes at dusk. To make toast for breakfast. I seek awareness and understanding of who I am and what motivates me to be a better person. I possess an ability to always focus on the single most important thing in my life and let everything else fall into place.

I keep everything in my life as simple as I want it to be.

If you would like to add the Fire Breathing Duck icon to your page, please feel free to copy the image above and link back to thefirebreathingduck.com. If you would like to contribute to help offset the cost of maintaining this site and ongoing distribution efforts, please click on the link below.