Although we try to address special needs throughout Minnesota Parent resources — typically in our On Behavior department as well as throughout the website— I felt we needed to step up our game.
While autism and ADHD have been heavily covered in recent years due to increased awareness and diagnoses, there is, of course, a whole world of other special needs that parents are facing today.
Indeed, throughout the website, you’ll find the voices of parents who are struggling. You’ll find some who say they feel alone, isolated, frustrated, and even a little bit terrified about the future.
But you’ll also hear those same voices singing the praises of their unusual parenting journeys and their beautiful, extra-challenging children, who every day give them joy, too.
As with all parenting, it’s a mixed bag. And as with all children, their kids are worth celebrating.
And that is what I want this to be about — celebration (and hope).
On our cover, we have a poster girl for that celebration, 9-year-old, “sprightly” Elsie from St. Paul, featured in a brand-new book — Faces of Autism: Inspiration. Admiration. Celebration. — by a Lakeville photographer, who has documented 30 inspiring children with beautiful photos that celebrate their personalities, talents and more.
We have hope — hope for early intervention (including local success stories), hope for kids with sensory issues who want to learn to swim, hope for families shocked at birth with a Down syndrome diagnosis, and even hope for a better tomorrow when it comes to kids and kindness.
Yes, let’s acknowledge the pain, suffering and vulnerability that goes along with finding your way in a special-needs world.
But let’s also pay attention to what unites all of us on this parenting journey.
We love our kids and we want the best for them.
And they all have the power to fill up — and just as quickly break — our hearts.
Sarah Jackson is the Editor of Minnesota Parent magazine. She lives in Minnetonka with her 8-year-old son. Write her at editor@mnparent.com.
