Reflecting on the Year: Holding Gratitude, Growth, and Grace

As this year comes to a close, many families of children with disabilities are taking a deep breath — some in relief, some in exhaustion, and many with a mix of emotions that are hard to put into words.

It has been a tough year.

For children navigating systems not built with them in mind.

For parents advocating day after day, often quietly and without recognition.

For families carrying the weight of decisions, meetings, and moments of uncertainty — all while continuing to love fiercely and show up consistently.

If this year felt heavy, you’re not alone.

Honoring the Wins — Even the Quiet Ones

When we reflect on a year like this, it can be easy to focus on what didn’t go as planned. The meetings that were hard. The services that took too long. The moments where progress felt slow or invisible.

But I want to invite parents to pause and acknowledge something important:

Every time you showed up, you advocated.

Every email you sent.

Every question you asked.

Every boundary you held.

Every time you trusted your instincts.

Those are wins — even when they didn’t feel like victories in the moment.

Progress in advocacy isn’t always loud or immediate. Often, it looks like small shifts, clearer communication, stronger documentation, or simply staying engaged when it would have been easier to step back.

Reflecting on the Struggles with Compassion

Struggles are not failures.

They are places to reflect, recalibrate, and learn.

Some challenges this year may have revealed:

• Where systems need to do better

• Where communication broke down

• Where support was missing or delayed

• Where trust was strained

These moments are not reflections of parental shortcomings. They are reflections of how complex and imperfect systems can be — and why parent advocacy remains essential.

Reflection is not about blame.

It’s about clarity.

Our Work Is Never Truly “Done”

For parents of children with disabilities, advocacy doesn’t end with the calendar year. Needs evolve. Children grow. Systems change — sometimes slowly.

But even knowing that our work continues, it’s still important to pause and acknowledge the love, dedication, and resilience it takes to do this work at all.

Rest and gratitude are not signs of giving up.

They are part of sustaining the journey.

A Personal Note of Gratitude

As I reflect on this year, I want to say thank you.

To the parents and families who trusted me with the deeply personal responsibility of advocating for their children — thank you. Your courage, honesty, and commitment continue to inspire me.

This year marked a meaningful milestone for me as I opened my LLC and stepped fully into this work. Being invited into your stories, meetings, and advocacy journeys has been an honor I do not take lightly.

2025 has been one of my most meaningful years — not because it was easy, but because it was filled with purpose, growth, and connection.

Moving Forward with Gratitude and Love

As we turn the page, may we carry forward:

• Gratitude for how far we’ve come

• Grace for what remains unfinished

• Love for the children at the center of it all

Your work matters.

Your voice matters.

And the way you show up — even on the hardest days — matters more than you know.

Thank you for being here. Thank you for trusting me. And thank you for continuing to advocate with love.

Here’s to reflection, rest, and moving forward with clarity.