Rewards of Parenting a Child with a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder

Abstract

There is a considerable amount of research on the challenges associated with parenting children who have dis- abilities, and little that focuses on positive aspects. The purpose of the study was to describe the rewards of parents of children with a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). Nineteen birth, foster or adoptive parents were asked to answer the following question: "What are the rewards of parenting a child with a FASD?" The data were analyzed using multidi- mensional scaling and cluster analysis. Four clusters resulted. Parents indicated that they saw the children's effort, growth, and accomplishment in a variety of domains as encouraging. Parents also reported feeling appreciated by the children. Re- sults suggest that rewarding parenting experiences with children who have alcohol-related disabilities are multiple, diverse and, when compared to the literature, largely consistent. The results lend credibility to the existing literature on the re- wards of parenting children with developmental disabilities, and FASD in particular.