There are days when it feels like I’m living in a completely different world from everyone else. No one really gets it. The playdates, the birthday parties, the invites to “just bring the kids”—they all come with this gut-wrenching reminder that our reality doesn’t look like everyone else’s. Having a child with special needs changes everything.

People don’t understand the position I’m in. It’s not that they’re unkind or don’t care, but the reality of having a child with special needs just doesn’t register in the same way for parents who don’t live it. They don’t realize how much I have to put Oakley’s needs above playdates, birthday parties, and other events. I’m constantly balancing this incredibly fine line between giving my other kids a full, exciting life, and at the same time, managing the unique challenges that come with raising Oakley. It’s hard, and I don’t think anyone fully understands just how exhausting it is to be in this position.