Sposoby doświadczania macierzyństwa z dzieckiem z niepełnosprawnością
Ways of experiencing motherhood of a child with disability

Summary/Abstract: Motherhood is an obvious and natural phenomenon, which is usually identified with the unique experiences of mothers and positive social perception. An exception may be the role of the mother of a child with disability. Then motherhood takes on different meanings, and the ways of experiencing the role of a mother are not as obvious as in the case of a fully-abled child. The aim of the article is to present the results of research on the reconstruction of experiences and the interpretation of experiences on motherhood with a child with disability and to propose ways to support mothers raising a child with disability. The research presented in the study was embedded in the interpretive paradigm, which consequently allowed the use of the biographical method with the use of an autobiographical narrative interview. The issue of motherhood of a child with disability appears in the public and scientific discourse quite often, but the biographical perspective reveals the individual meanings given to motherhood. The reality reconstructed by mothers is complex and consists of negative emotions resulting from threat, uncertainty, disorientation and lack of control over the situation caused by the child’s disability. Next to them in women’s lives there are positive emotions resulting from the acceptance of disability, the smallest progression of a child, or a sense of fulfilment in the role of a mother. The subjective interpretation of the experiences of mothers raising a child with disability shows unique biographies and proves that mothers experience this motherhood in many ways: lonely motherhood, burdened with risk or dominated by disability, but also normalized, supported and fulfilled. Mothers give their stories their own meanings, which are important from their perspective.

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