There’s a quote I hold close to my heart: “Every storm runs out of rain.” It serves as a quiet reminder that even the darkest, most relentless moments will eventually pass—though when you’re in the middle of it, it can feel like forever.

When I first created this space, my hope was to share not just information and resources, but also our personal journey as a special education family. It’s a path filled with challenges, triumphs, and everything in between. For those of you who are new here, when I reference a “year,” I always mean the school year, July through June, not the traditional calendar year. It’s how my life and mindset are structured, and how I reflect on our experiences.

This past school year has been one of the most difficult chapters of my life. In August, I lost my mother. Her passing was the beginning of a storm I could never have anticipated. Grief was the first wave, and it was soon followed by a series of events that deeply affected my middle schooler. Circumstances led us to withdraw him from school and move to homebound instruction. What was meant to be temporary became indefinite due to the school system’s unwillingness to compromise on a non-negotiable issue.

The emotional toll this took on our family, especially on my son, has been profound. The social isolation, the disruption in routine, and the sheer weight of navigating it all were more than we ever expected.

And yet… every storm runs out of rain.

We’re still finding our way through the clouds, but I believe in the clearing skies ahead. My hope is that by sharing our story…raw and real…I can connect with others going through their own storms. You are not alone, and neither are we.

Thank you for being here.

-Carolyn
Always an FTC Warrior