I didn’t expect our summer to unfold like this. Just as we settle into a rhythm, solve a problem, find a resource, establish a routine, something shifts. And it feels like we’re back to square one.

Yesterday was a perfect example. A simple errand with the promise of ice cream ended in meltdown. A small decision, where to get ice cream, spiraled into regret, dysregulation, and chaos.

As parents, these moments are hard. One minute things are fine; the next, everything unravels. I keep wondering: Why does a simple choice feel so overwhelming for him? What are we missing?

Is it fatigue? A schedule change? Something deeper? And if we, who know him best, struggle to understand, how can his school team? What does this mean for his future and independence?

I’ve started calling this the “summer of worry.” As he grows, so do the questions. And the answers feel more elusive than ever.

Parenting a child with complex needs means living between uncertainty and temporary calm. It’s about adjusting expectations, grieving lost ease, and celebrating small, often invisible, wins.

I still struggle with not having answers. But I’m learning that what matters most is showing up, learning, and trying.

This summer may not be what I imagined; but it’s teaching me patience, resilience, and grace. For him, and for myself.

And maybe, for now, that’s enough.

Thanks for being here!
– Carolyn
Always an FTC Warrior