Dear Special Needs Moms and Dads:

Dear homeschooling special needs moms and dads,

I see you lying awake at night worried about your kids’ future.

I see you hiding in the bathroom with the secret chocolate stash.

I see you dreading the holidays because you know the overstimulation will cause even more chaos.

I see you going over the same grammar (or math) concept again. And again. And again.

I see you driving your kids to therapy appointments when you’d rather be driving them to sports and dance classes.

I see you dreading holiday get-togethers with family because you know some of them will be giving you “advice” and wondering what’s “wrong” with your kid.

I see you paying for therapy and evaluations when you’d rather be taking your family on vacation or even just out to dinner.

I see you wondering how your life turned out so differently than you imagined.

I see you researching disabilities and homeschool curriculum in a desperate attempt to find something that will work.

I see you standing by while your child has a tantrum because his pencil made a scratching sound that no one else could hear and drove him nuts.

I see those of you that are juggling multiple kids with special needs.

I see you as you try to keep up in conversations with friends about test scores and academic achievements.

I see you weighing medication options and wondering how medications now will affect your child as they grow up.

I see you worrying about how things are affecting your other kids.

I see you standing by, helpless, as anxiety takes over your child’s body.

I also see you when you feel like losing your patience and you don’t and I am proud of you.

I see you when you just want to give up and you don’t.

I don’t have all the answers – or maybe any of them.

But I do know that you are not alone. We are all in this together. Your child is perfect for you and you are the right parent for your child.