Content noteDiscusses parental stress, a child hitting others as an example of a difficult day, long-term caregiving and transition into young adulthood, and uses dark humor about coping. Shares lived experience, not individualized professional advice.
Accessible text version
Full transcript
So the single biggest blessing that came out of Chris—besides Chris himself—is the community that I met through his first kindergarten class, and the kids that he connected with, and, as a result, the mothers that I connected with.
If there is nothing else I can say on this entire… everything Decoding Divergent is community.
Yes, your family is important. Yes, your friends that you had prior to having a divergent child are important. But the mothers that you have—and fathers; let me preface this—people who are raising neurodivergent kids, who are living in the trenches like you are day to day, who understand a victory might be something as simple as your kid not hitting anyone that day. And I mean at eight, not at three.
People who really get that, and who champion that for you, and can offer you humor and respite and, you know, a real sense of you being seen.
We are still friends. Our boys—there are a couple girls, but mostly boys—they are all 24 now. We are still navigating their lives as young adults, but we have been on this journey together.
I think they have been… My sister and that community have been the reason that I still am sane, and I am not wearing a straitjacket in a white padded room right now. Truly.
About this contentDecoding Divergent shares lived experience and general educational information. It is not medical, mental-health, legal, or educational advice and is not a substitute for qualified professional support.