The SpecialMoms Parenting Magazine 4th Issue | Page 23

We know that we are our child’s
biggest advocates, but for a new
parent who just learned that their
child will have special challenges,
what would you tell them?
I think that the most important thing for a parent
new to the scary world of “things are not as you’d
expected they’d be,” to know is that
1. all of the kids (and the people) in the world are
more alike than different,
2. Life is beautiful, regardless of the crappy moments, and
3. You’ll be okay. Really truly okay. Sometimes,
you’ll even forget that you’re not “a normal
family” because everybody’s “normal” is normal
enough.

Is there a special needs
community whether it be online

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or offline that has been very
helpful for you in your journey
that you would like to share with
others?
I’ve found great comfort in becoming friends with
my son’s classmates’ parents. They get it. Their kids
are like mine is.

Looking into the future, what do
you wish for your child?
That he’s accepted as he is. That he’s not bullied for
his language delays, and that he remains as happy
as he is now. He’s just five, and often doesn’t realize
that people asking him to repeat himself is any different from anybody else. I hope that’s always the
case - that he’s confident and practices self-compassion. That he realizes while talking is hard for
him, that we all have things that are really hard for
us and that he’s not less-than anybody due to the
things that are hard for him.

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