I live in Boulder, Colorado with my husband of 15 years, Alex, our three children, and an assortment of reptiles, amphibians, and insects. Our oldest son Kyle is 12 years-old and in middle school. He’s into drumming, video games and snowboarding. Ten-year-old Jasper reads for hours every day and is a budding paleontologist and avid snowboarder. Sabrina is eight-years-old. She loves American Girls dolls, ballet, singing, and would love a play date every day. Alex runs his own company, X2M, and enjoys all things outdoors along with bluegrass music and traveling. I work for the school district as the parent liaison for special education. I am also a professional writer and editor and author of Mother Blessings: Honoring Women Becoming Mothers.

Sabrina has informed and transformed all of our lives. When she was about 4 months old, I suspected she was not developing typically. She started receiving therapy when she was a year-old. We do not have a ‘diagnosis’ for her delays which also means there is no limit to her capabilities and achievements. Sabrina took her first steps when she was 18-months-old and said her first words when she was three-years-old. While she has lots to say and sings hours each day, it is still difficult to understand her words. Her dear friend Emily can almost always understand her but other friends still struggle. Sabrina is in second grade at an arts-integrated elementary school. She is fully included and has a close group of girlfriends. She loves school though wishes she could read like her friends. One of her strengths is that she never gives up even when things are hard for her. And she always has a generous and positive attitude.

Sabrina is close to her two brothers and she teaches them as much as they teach her. Jasper is learning to cultivate patience and compassion for people that aren’t as bright as he is and Kyle uses his younger sister as a touchstone. When he is battling his own demons of anxiety and impulse, he goes to her to find his center. Her friends are also discovering that Sabrina is strong and stable and can offer comfort to others. And I love that I have a child who likes to dance and sing and make beautiful things.

What the future holds specifically for any of my children is unknown. But what I do know is that it is rich with possibilities and as contributing citizens of our schools, neighborhoods and communities, anything is possible.