Hi there,

Have you ever sat across from a school team and thought, I don’t know how much longer I can do this?

That’s the moment Abby found herself in not once, but again and again over years of IEP meetings, data folders, attorney letters, and monthly “check-ins” that never led to change. 

Her daughter Lucy, who started school at age three, spent most of her time in general education settings, surrounded by low expectations and subtle (and not-so-subtle) harm.
 

Abby tried everything.
Collaboration. Evidence.Grace.

But nothing shifted except her exhaustion.

And then one day, she asked herself the scariest question of all:

“What if staying is doing more harm than good?”

That question and the story that followed is the heartbeat of this recent Art of Advocacy episode.
 

Lucy didn’t just change schools. She found belonging.

Not because the new school was perfect. But because it met her with curiosity instead of compliance. 

Teachers built relationships before rushing into goals. 

Classmates supported her in real ways. And for the first time, Abby felt like a partner not a problem.
 

Lucy's favorite subject now? Math.

Her favorite part of school? Lunch.

(Okay, mostly lunch.)

But really, it’s about joy. Confidence. Being treated like a person, not a problem to be fixed.

If you’re wondering whether to keep pushing or to pause, this episode is for you.

It’s not a story of quitting. It’s a story of choosing peace, on purpose.

Click to Watch 

And if this hits a tender place in you… you’re not alone.

What to Ponder: 

What would shift if we stopped asking, “Is my child trying hard enough?” and started asking, "Is this space safe enough for my child to show up as they are?"
 

What to Ask:  

What would change if I believed my child deserved more than just “making it work”?

What to Do:

You can listen to your gut, even when the data says “she’s fine.” You can name what’s not working and start imagining what could.
 

However this story lands for you, just know you’re not wrong for wanting more. 

You’re not alone for feeling tired. 

And you don’t have to figure it out by yourself.

We’re in this with you. Always.