‘For parents like me, the season of being waist-deep in caring for our child won’t end. The weeds are where we live.’: Special needs mom says ‘I know I’m not alone’

“I read an article where the writer was a mom of young kids and her life revolved around them. She was trying to explain and apologize to her friends because she was ‘in the weeds.’

She was too busy caring for her little ones who required so much of her to be a good friend. She reminded her friends it won’t last forever.

My immediate thought was – it will for me. It’s not just a season. It’s forever.

For some of us, the season of being waist deep in caring for our child won’t end. For parents like me, the weeds are where we live.

I know I’m not alone.

Every moment I feel grief wash over me, I know another mother is feeling the same.

Every second I feel out of place or that I don’t belong, I know there’s a mom who gets it.

When the day is long and I’m tired of fighting for what our son deserves, I can hear another mom telling me, ‘You got this.’

Every dream I let go of, I know another mom has done the same.

I’m not alone in the weeds, and oddly enough, it brings me some comfort.

But there’s joy too in the weeds. A lot of it.

I know every moment I’m pushing our son to be stronger, there’s another mom enduring hours of appointments to achieve another goal.

Every time I’m over the moon about something seemingly insignificant, I know without a doubt there is another mom crying tears of joy with me.

No moment is wasted or taken for granted, and I know with every fiber of my being there are other moms who feel the exact same way. There are far too many parents who know each and every day is truly a gift.

Many of us have made our home amongst the weeds.

You may be here. You might be in the weeds, too. It may be a season or a lifetime.

But just know I’m here.

You aren’t alone. I’ll be here for awhile.”

This story was submitted to Love What Matters by Melissa Schlemmer of Forest Lake, Minnesota. You can follow their journey on Facebook and Instagram. Submit your own story here, and be sure to subscribe to our free email newsletter for our best stories, and YouTube  for our best videos.

Read more from Melissa:

‘I’ve received comments that I shouldn’t share Christopher’s life online because he can’t give consent.’: Special needs mom urges ‘his life is worth living’

‘There’s a fine line between pushing him to be someone he’ll never be, and supporting him in the person he’s meant to become.’: Special needs mom says ‘we can’t do it all’

‘The very best thing we could have ever done.’: Special needs mom raises feeding tube awareness

‘She said, ‘I know I shouldn’t complain, because as you know…it could always be worse.’ Wait a second. What?’: Special needs mom says ‘my son is not your worst-case scenario’

Spread beauty and strength for others. SHARE this story on Facebook with family and friends.