Have you ever left a meeting about your child feeling like you’ve somehow lost them in the paperwork?
I think one of the hardest things about parenting a child with additional needs is watching conversations become dominated by what they struggle with. Their difficulties, their diagnosis, their support needs. Important things, but not the whole story.
A diagnosis can be useful. It can open doors to support. But it is never a description of a child. Our children are always bigger, richer and more interesting than the challenges they face.
This is a reminder that one of our most important roles as parents may simply be to keep helping others see the whole child - their strengths, quirks, talents and humanity, not just the things they find difficult.
Thank you for pausing with me. Take care.
