To the Mothers of Special Needs Moms on Mother's Day

Before I had our son Jackson, I don't think I can say I understood the power of a mother's love- that fierce protectiveness and unfathomable love that comes when you give birth to a child.

NOW I know. And because of this, mothers who have watched their daughters become mothers of a child with special needs, I dedicate this to you. 

NOW I understand that you would have given anything to take your daughter's pain away when she received a life-changing diagnosis. When you listened to her cry and say that it felt like her heart was literally breaking, I am beginning to understand that a part of you was being ripped apart as well because this was a pain you could not take away. When we were young, you could kiss our boo-boos away. When a boy broke our heart, you could comfort us and offer us ice cream. But this? This was a deeper cut. One that was invisible, caused guilt, and could not be easily stitched with kisses and ice cream.

Thank you for listening. Thank you for crying with us. Thank you for not making us feel like horrible mothers when we said we weren't sure we could do it- "it" being being the kind of mothers these amazing children need.

Yes, there were missteps along the way as both parties learned to navigate a new terrain, but each of these missteps helped us find our footing as we continue to travel along the sometimes bumpy, sometimes scary, but always rewarding road we now travel.

For it took some time for us daughters to realize that, as alone as we felt when we first received the diagnosis, our moms were walking right there beside us, waiting for us to notice and be ready to accept their help and support. 

Thank you for continuing to be our cheerleaders when we feel we aren't doing enough. Thank you for not thinking we are too wacky when we pursue alternative therapies and seek the guidance of a variety of types of doctors and specialists from around the country. Most of all, thank you for loving our children, your grandchildren. We may have been worried how our children would be accepted, and you were often the first example we saw of true acceptance, loving our children unconditionally.

We have learned many things about ourselves since the birth of our children, but we also have come to know that we still need our moms to kiss the metaphorical boo-boos that come along with this journey. Your support and encouragement deserve so much more than these words.

So, today on Mother's Day and every day, thank you. If WE were meant to be our children's mothers, YOU were the ones who raised us to be the kind of women who would rise to the challenges and revel in the joys of this crazy adventure of parenting a child with special needs. 

Happy Mother's Day to best the Nana around!