OK, I like to think I am a good mum, I certainly strive to be, but I doubt if I do anything that other mums wouldn't if they had my little girl!
In other words, I do what I do because I have no choice!
This is what life has thrown at me (and obviously her) (not Catherine, I mean her "special needs") and none of us have a choice in the matter really, do we, unless we have our child adopted? I was far too attached to her and in love with her to do that when I found out she was "disabled" - you can't just undo maternal love can you! So to me I had no choice but to have a daughter with special needs. I love her like crazy and I am really proud of her (especially today!) but I don't think it takes a special kind of mother or anything, I think it's more a case that you can get used to almost anything given time. A mother soon falls madly in love, in most circumstances, with her new baby. And when that baby turns out to have problems, the love is too strong to let go in most cases, so you learn to cope. It was very hard for me to cope with the news about Catherine at first, but she is my girl and I love her.
I'd put money on almost all mums being the same in similar circumstances, so I don't think I am a particularly great mum! Just an average one who strives to be a brilliant one! Thanks for the compliment though...