Stepping Outside Our Comfort Zone
After seeing a TikTok of an occupational therapist encouraging parents of kids with disabilities, I realized sometimes we need to step across the invisible line of our comfort zone to encourage each other.
I have had the thought “What is the use of advocating?” because most of the people who see my blogs or publications are either parents of kids with disabilities or trolls. I sometimes feel that posts or blogs are basically members of the same community swapping similar stories of ignorant medical specialists pressuring us to terminate our pregnancy based on an extra chromosome and telling us what they believe our children will not accomplish in life.
We are indeed a community sharing something special in common — a child thriving with an extra chromosome! We also share beautiful, triumphant victories, both big and small! However, I have never seen one who is NOT a special need’s parent advocate and encourage one who is, until today. This video touched my heart in a way that made me realize how much we need to reach those outside our community and how much the ones outside our community needs to reach us. Is walking in circles within a comfort zone really making a difference? Advocating and sharing outside of our comfort zone may make us feel uncomfortable and vulnerable. However; like pottery, after leaving what is familiar and being put in the fire (aka what feels uncomfortable), we will be left stronger, more beautiful, and more useful!
Thank you to this young lady for sharing an encouraging word to us parents that endure guilt of feeling we may not be doing enough or question what we could do differently.
Our children are worthy of love, grace, and opportunities of being THEIR best
and so are we!