Single Mamas Seen: Appreciation Post

THANKFUL FOR MY VILLAGE Giving Them Their Flowers

BY CHRISTINA MCGAIRK

Raising a child with exceptional needs as a single mother comes with unique challenges and joys. I’m often thankful for the village that supports my daughter and me, especially during trying times. Recently, I returned to work outside of the home. While the position is on an ‘as needed’ basis, I started out with full-time training hours. My daughter, who is used to Mommy being home most of the time, wasn’t thrilled about the change. Many in our village stepped up in amazing ways to help us, and I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to them.

First, my mom has been an incredible help with TiTi. From getting her off the bus to helping new PAC providers get acclimated to TiTi, and making sure she had everything she needed, she was such a great help. Despite the many differences in our style of parenting, I know she loves TiTi dearly and would move mountains for both of us. Thank you, Mom.

Her therapists have also been remarkable. Tracy, her behavioral therapist, has such an incredible way of connecting with neurodiverse kiddos and adults, including TiTi. On many occasions she would drop what she was

doing or change her schedule around just to get TiTi on the bus or to school. Plus, managing to get her to go to school when I couldn’t. Her creativity and expertise have empowered us both. Dominique, her speech therapist, braved the extreme cold and held TiTi’s returning therapy session in our car with bubbles and Jenga blocks in hand. She truly showed how dedicated she was to her job and to us. I am incredibly thankful for both of them for their unwavering commitment and heartfelt care.

My daughter’s teacher is another vital part of our village. He demonstrated his innovative thinking by creating a social story about returning to school [after Christmas break] and even asked if he could visit our home so he could read the story to her. I’ve never had a teacher do that before. Thank you, dear teacher, for your dedication and creativity.

Together, my mom, my daughter’s therapists, and her teacher form a part of our extraordinary village that surrounds us with love, support, and hope. In a world that can feel isolating, our village provides us the strength and encouragement we need to navigate this journey that can sometimes feel overwhelming. I am extremely grateful for each and every one of them. I apologize if I have forgotten to mention anyone else who helped TiTi and me during this difficult transition, but please know your efforts haven’t gone unnoticed. Much Love!