Dear IEP Mom,
It’s that time of year once more. Yes, IEP season has arrived. This is the period characterized by sleepless nights and anxiety-ridden days, all culminating in a 30- to 45-minute meeting that will shape your child’s educational journey for the upcoming year. It’s when you find yourself sitting at a table surrounded by teachers, therapists, and psychologists who may think they know your child’s needs better than you do, while you strive to assert your perspective. This is the moment when you wrestle to keep your cool while navigating a maze of demands to ensure your child’s educational needs are met appropriately.
I want you to remember that you are not alone in this struggle — I am right there with you. I empathize with your frustration when it feels like no one at that table is truly listening. I, too, question how they can appear engaged yet still miss the heart of what I’m trying to convey. Like you, I often hold back tears as they enumerate my child’s challenges while providing little in terms of real support. It’s a perplexing experience, to say the least. Think of me as your inner voice, urging you to stay composed, reassuring you that being assertive doesn’t require raising your voice. My palms are clammy, and my heart races in tandem with yours, echoing the anxious thought: “Am I doing and saying enough?”
But let me reassure you: you are doing more than enough. You are a champion, a warrior in ways that many parents can’t fully grasp. Dismiss the dismissive remarks you might encounter — when someone says, “It’s just a meeting,” remember, it is so much more. It’s not simply a meeting, and unless someone has walked in your shoes, they cannot fathom its significance. I, too, have felt misunderstood, as if my friends don’t understand the complexities of my situation. It can be isolating and exhausting trying to explain it all.
Do you recognize the strength you possess? You are your child’s most vital advocate, teacher, therapist, and psychologist. You juggle countless roles daily to ensure your child transitions smoothly from morning to night. I know, and even if the educators across from you don’t see it, you are stronger than you realize.
You are the one person at that meeting fighting for your child’s right to the educational support they deserve — the support that is not only warranted but legally mandated, allowing them to thrive in the least restrictive environment possible. I celebrate with you during their triumphs and feel your heartache during setbacks. Yes, IEP Mom, you are a true rock star, a hero in this journey.
So, as you prepare to enter that meeting, walk in with confidence, armed with your documents and your well-rehearsed points. This is yet another battle in the ongoing war for your child’s education. But remember, I am in a similar room, at a different school, perhaps just a town or state away.
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In summary, you are not alone in this fight. Stand tall and know that there are many like us, united in our mission to secure the best for our children.