Avoiding Burnout: Why the Doman Method™ Requires Marathon Runners, Not Sprinters
Brain injury takes time to heal. I know this first-hand because as I approached 6 years of age, I still couldn’t read. My memory and retention of what I learned was very poor. My mother had done an amazing Reading Program, and my parents, realized that I needed an intensive Doman Method™ program. They realized the normal amount wasn’t enough for me, so they had to increase my whole program to a full intensive treatment program.
It required four years of program to get me reading at age level. There are kids that make that jump in only a few months, but it took me four years.
“I was ten when I finally read independently and no longer had learning difficulties. ”
The Doman Method™ is like Running a Marathon, except you have no idea what mile you are on. You could be at mile 5, 10 or 25. You could be far away or almost there. You will never know until you reach the finish line.
Here are some helpful lifestyle tools to create sustainable stamina to run the marathon. Avoiding burnout is one of the most important things a parent can do to ensure a child gets as much time doing the program as possible.
Celebrate every mile
Often parents forget to celebrate every mile along the way. We long for the finish line and forget that there are so many wonderful things about running a marathon.
No matter how small a victory, it is so crucial to celebrate with your child and family. Enjoy the moment! I will never forget, speaking to a family whose daughter had just begun to crawl on the flat floor. However, shortly after she began to crawl, they were asking when she would start to creep.
I remember Melissa answered something like this, “Even a well baby should crawl for months before they start creeping, can you give the poor girl a break?” The truth is that many families don’t celebrate victories, they are happy for a moment and then quickly turn to the next problem to solve. DON’T!
Enjoy the milestone. Celebrate big time, so your child knows that every accomplishment is a big one! They are working so hard, so give them time to enjoy themselves.
2. Make sure you are taking time for yourself.
To really begin to slow down and run a marathon make sure you are taking time for not just your child, but yourself. Invest in self-care because you have to keep your energy high and yourself healthy. I have seen too many mothers sacrifice their own health for their child. It will not help your kid if you are sick, hurt or burned out. Avoiding burnout is the number one priority. Burnout means you are either emotionally drained or sick, and that will hurt your child’s program.
Dads - you must help with this point, remember to give the mother of your children time for her own alone self-care daily. Dads, you can read more about my recommendations for you here.
3. Remember to invest in things around you
Sprinting is not the way to run a marathon. We have to slow down, complete each mile at a good pace, take advantage of each water break and most importantly, enjoy the people you are running next too. You are running with your child, your partner, your mom, your volunteer patterners, and the other mothers who know exactly how you feel.
Remember to invest in those around you. Remember you have a partner that wants to be with you. You have family and friends who long to talk to you. Keep in touch with those who support and love you. You will need them so keep them around.
I am one of the lucky ones because I reached the finish line. I remember the day when my mother found me on the sofa and I was reading a book independently.
“It was a small victory after thousands of victories — a marathon. ”
The journey is what got me well, not the final moment. The journey is where all the tiny miracles happen.