EP:57 A Dad’s Perspective About Raising Children With Special Needs

Certified Financial Planner Rob Wrubel joins Annette Hines all the way from Colorado Springs, Colorado for this episode of Parenting Impossible. Rob focuses on financial planning for families with special-needs members. It’s a community familiar to him both professionally and personally. Rob is the father to three children, including his 17-year-old daughter Sarah who has Down Syndrome. He is also an author and has written books titled, "Financial Freedom for Special Needs Families," as well as "Protect Your Family, Life Insurance Basics For Social Needs Planning." Rob is getting ready to release a new book titled "Special Needs Trusts in 30 Days."

 

During the show, Annette asks Rob to open up about his feelings surrounding the difference between the way mothers and fathers cope with the challenges that come with raising a special needs child. Rob shares the story of his daughter’s birth and how the first year of her life came with a lot of emotional struggles. "The nurses were happy to see me, and I was a little surprised about why," recalls Rob. "I heard from them, that when kids are sick, Dad’s often don’t show up, they disappear."

Annette and Rob also discuss what life is like for him as a divorced Dad with 50/50 custody. Rob admits that while he and his former wife have different opinions on topics like which therapies and interventions may be best, ultimately living separately has helped them work as a team. Rob follows the motto, "my household, your household," meaning they accept the fact they do things differently.

 

Later, Annette and Rob dig into some of Rob’s thoughts and fears about his daughter’s future. "I try not to get bogged down with not being able to fix everything," says Rob. "I try not to exclude the possible."

Annette Hines has been practicing in the areas of Special Needs, Elder Law, and Estate Planning for more than 20 years. Ms. Hines brings personal experience with special needs to her practice and podcasts as the mother of two daughters, one of whom passed away from Mitochondrial disease in November 2013. This deep, personal understanding of special needs fuels her passion for quality special needs planning and drives her dedication to help others within the special needs community.