2024 Volume 20 Issue 2 Pages 24-32
Purpose:To clarify the parenting process of fathers of children with severe motor and intellectual disabilities（SMID）who need medical care when they start school.
Methods:Semi-structured interviews were conducted with fathers of children with SMID, mainly in the Tokyo metropolitan area, regarding their experiences during the schooling period. The interview content was analyzed based on a modified grand theory approach.
Results:When fathers of children with SMID begin “To face the children’s challenges of schooling”, they “Assess the situation surrounding their children and families”, and “Take action to improve the living environment for their children and families”. Also, they “Have various feelings about schooling as a result of their actions”. In addition, by influencing each other, including mothers, fathers of other SMID, and professionals, they were “Supported in raising their children when they start school”. Fathers go through this process throughout schooling each time a new challenge arises, building on their experiences.
Discussion:The fathers of children with SMID at the time of schooling looked at themselves, their families, and society from a bird’s eye view and assessed the situation surrounding their children and families. They struggled to balance work and family life and explored their role as fathers in the family, while taking action to maintain their children’s and family’s lives and to create an environment conducive to their children’s schooling.
