I have met countless parents over the years who have so many different stories. This letter is to all of you. There are so many things I want to say, things I want you to know.

I want you to know that I see you… I see you hold your tongue when that well meaning person starts giving you advice, I see you walk in the door and make it look easy when we both know it’s not, I see you place your faith in me and I am humbled, I see you hold on to your sadness when you see your friend’s same age children reach milestones that you know your child may never reach, I see you walk by those other mums who watch your child’s behaviour from afar and think ‘If she were my child I’d sort her out before you know it’, I see you wash your face after being up countless times last night with your now 12 year old, knowing full well that your friends ‘ sleep deprived baby days’ are long gone, I see you hold on to not knowing what the future holds for your child, I see you cry, I see you laugh, I see your nerves as you head into that meeting, I see you joyfully celebrate your other child’s achievements while you swallow your sadness as you know you are watching them achieve things you know your special needs child may never do.

Which leads me to wonder, what do you see?  Do you see that mother at school who fumbles over her awkward compliment, what she is really saying is… “I think you are absolutely amazing and I’m actually not sure if I could do what you do, just watching you from afar has taught me so much.”  Do you see your partner who thinks to themselves, thank goodness you are there because they couldn’t do it without you and they know no one could fill your shoes.  Do you see the look in your other children’s eyes thankful that you are the rock of the family. Do you see the support that you are to other mothers in similar situations. Do you see the skills you have developed.
You may carry guilt, anger, sadness, all sorts of feelings may come and go, but I hope that one of them is pride. Your special needs child is where they are today because of you, you fight for them, you may fight with them, you push them forward when they need it, and hold them back to protect them, you shelter them, you love them, you are their lioness, their hero, their guardian angel.