I grew up in a small town called Linden, NJ. I grew up with the same kids starting from Kindergarten. I am still friends with my Kindergarten friends forty years later. We get together for dinner every quarter, we go to the Jersey Shore one day each summer and even go to AC for a spa day during our birthday month. Thanks to Facebook, we are share our lives with one another every day. Yesterday, we spent the day at a high school graduation party of a friend’s son.
In 2004, my husband and I had built our dream home in the Poconos. Long story short, in 2009, we realized that the schools weren’t right for our son so we left that 2 1/2 acre 4000+ sq ft home and rented a little tiny house on a very busy Main Street in another town to get him a better education. I insisted that our children needed to grow up with the same children throughout their school years like I did. Community is very important and I feel that the children would be more forgiving of my son’s quirks and idiosyncrasies if they grew up with one another since they were 5 years old. (So far, it’s working!)
If you are on this website, you are a type of person that will do just about anything to make your child’s life better. Six of my Kindergarten friends have special needs children. Community is so very important. Not just for them but for us. We need support of one another. Support during those tough days. Support of new ideas and resources. Support to inspire us to keep trying new things even if our “babies” are in their twenties.
I am going to nudge you. Find an old friend. Make a new one. Do it for your kids. But most importantly, do it for yourself. We all need a community. If you already have that community, call someone today.
Thank you for joining our Special Squad. I am thankful and grateful that you are here.
Big hugs,
Jennifer
P.S. My Kindergarten friend Jo-Ann and I created a Facebook page called Me First: Reflections and Reality. Two moms, each with special needs children, learning to put themselves first. Trying to balance work and home and stay healthy and happy. Come and check it out.
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