Pride. Regression. And the Lesson I’ll Never Forget.

We thought we had it.

We'd survived early intervention, walked through pre-K meltdowns, and I had led every IEP meeting like a pro.

By the time Kendall got to 6th grade, I was sure we were ready.

We weren't.

Middle school exposed a truth we didn't want to face:

We weren't in control anymore, and our pride made it worse.

Instead of asking for help, we tried to manage it all. My background in education and years of advocacy meant I could figure it out. But Kendall's first semester of 6th grade was brutal. The regression was fast and deep, and we never fully recovered in some areas.

We made a decision based on pride, once we saw the upfront investment required to support us in getting the best for Kendall. 

We kept going into meetings, because they were constant, with PRIDE. 

And paid the price in stress, school trauma, and lost progress.

Once we made the investment, we gained control of a situation that had become a derailed train, and we were now working to get it back on the track. 

The investment was well worth the peace of mind we gained for the remainder of six grade.

I was told by a coach:

"You invest at the level you want to succeed."

In hindsight, that hit differently, knowing we allowed our pride to keep us from investing in Kendall's future earlier in the sixth grade, when the meetings were non-stop.

Because we hadn't.

Not in that moment.

We didn't pivot early. We didn't upgrade our support.

And we paid in ways no parent should have to.

This email is your early invitation to recognize the value of investing in support early and be proactive for the remainder of the year.

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