Raising kids with special needs isn’t for sissies.

There is the possibility every single day that a new challenge relating to a special need can send your day in a different direction than you planned.

There is always something to watch. To monitor. Last week and this week it was a med change with extra labs. Extra calls to the team. To the pharmacy. There are clocks to watch in order to set appointments and get to them. There were schedules and fun and lessons and therapy appointments to cancel, change or keep. There were tear soaked cheeks to wipe and comfort to give.

This week there are IEP (Individual Education Plan) concerns and assessments to arrange. Quinn is being assessed for vision functionality (how her OMA impacts her learning and social skills) and Gage for adaptive technology (keyboard). Permission to give, the forms to sign and return. There are impromptu meetings to be had to address concerns. There are so many things to watch. All the time. To make sure everyone is doing what needs to be done to give the best possible chance for health and education for the kids.

And it’s exhausting. Raising a special needs child (or two) requires a willingness to be flexible. If you have a chance to make it all work, you have to be willing to be many things to many people. Even if it is a forced willingness.