When you are raising a child with special needs and/or a chronic illness you have many areas in your life you have to juggle. Doctor appointments, school IEPs, medication, lab work, and insurance. Add on the regular life things like house maintenance, laundry (darn those kids can dirty some clothes) church activities, grocery shopping, and, oh yeah – work and some days you aren’t sure how you’ll do it all.

It’s nearly impossible to do everything that you have to do and everything that you want to do. You have to neglect certain things. Sometimes it’s hard to send or call with birthday wishes. Sometimes you are always a couple of days, or weeks, or even a month or so behind. The kids don’t get to have many play dates because that time and energy is used for therapy appointments, hospital trips for routine labs, and doctor’s appointments. As parents we don’t always get to do things that we’d like to because frankly, we don’t have the energy.

We want to celebrate our friends’ birthdays with dinner parties. At the drop of a hat we want to meet friends out for a family dinner or visit the zoo. Or volunteer more. Or maybe a leisure activity that makes us feel like society’s normal. But our jam packed routine most times won’t allow it, and then there’s the meds and Gage’s urine factor.

Even we are 2^nd tier. We’re usually behind in making our own appointments for things to take care of ourselves. (Um…listen up dentist receptionist – I know I need my teeth cleaned, you don’t need to call me again.) As much as we know we should take care of ourselves so we can take care of the kids, we put ourselves low on the priority list.

But I promise, you are not 2^nd tier in importance to me. You are the friend who’s birthday I didn’t acknowledge properly (recently there are a few of you!), the husband who doesn’t get nearly as many mushy cards as he should, or hot dinners for that matter, the friend who gets the late sympathy card, the church that could use my help more, the friend having trouble with her child who I wish I could support more by getting on a plane, the friend who could use an ear to listen, or the family or friend I just haven’t called to catch up. I’m sorry.

I promise. You are 1^st tier in my heart.