Woman's Open Letter to Special-Needs Moms
1 Woman to All the Special-Needs Parents Out There: "I Want You to Know That I See You"
Alethea Mshar, a writer and mom of two boys who have special needs, knows how isolating it can feel when you're raising a kid who might be considered atypical. In a recent Facebook post, the thoughtful mom took the time to assure other parents who are parenting children who have special needs that they're both seen and appreciated. She wrote:
Dear Special Needs Mom, I want you to know that I see you. I see you running your child to therapy when your friends are running their kids to Little League. I see you slipping out [of the] conversation when your friends are all chiming in about milestones and test grades. I see you juggling appointments and meetings, always making sure you do the best for your child. I see you sitting at your computer for hours researching what your child needs. I see you cringe when people whine about the petty things that pale in comparison to your day.
I see you spread thin, but still going the extra mile for your family, and manageing to do it with a smile. I see you digging for depths of strength you never dreamed you had. I see you showing appreciation to the teachers, therapists and medical professionals who serve your child with you. I see you reluctantly rising early in the morning to do it all again after another chaotic night. I see you when you're hanging on to the end of your rope for dear life.
As a woman who's been through the exact same thing, Alethea knows what it's like to feel utterly alone.
"I know you feel invisible, like nobody notices any of it," she wrote. "But I want you to know that I notice you. I see you in the trenches, relentlessly pushing onward. . . What you're doing matters. It's worth it. On those days when you wonder if you can do it another minute, I want you to know that I see you. I want you to know that you're beautiful. I want you to know that it's worth it. I want you to know that you aren't alone. I want you to know that love is what matters most, and you have that nailed."
For this mom of two, simply getting recognised every once in a while can make a world of difference. Now, she's taking the time to do it for others. "On those days when you have breakthroughs, those times when the hard work, pays off and success is yours to cherish, I see you then too, and I am proud of you," she said. "Whichever day today is, you're worthy, you're good, and I see you."
