by Kayla Myers, Peer Support coordinator

July 21, 2025

Every year, National Parents’ Day comes and goes, and honestly, I didn’t even know it existed until a few years ago. There are no balloons or wrapped gifts. No themed parties, school plays, or glittery cards like we see on Mother’s Day or Father’s Day. And honestly? That’s what makes it feel more real to me.

Parenting doesn’t usually look like a greeting card. It’s unfiltered. It’s behind the scenes. It’s deeply personal. It’s also the hardest, but most sacred, thing I’ve ever done.

Parenting is early mornings with tired eyes and late nights filled with worry. It’s asking myself, Did I say the right thing? Was I too soft? Too strict? Too distracted? Too emotional? Am I giving them enough? Am I enough? It’s making a thousand decisions a day and second-guessing at least half of them. It’s pouring from a cup that sometimes feels empty, and still showing up the next day with whatever strength I can find. Because their love keeps me going.

And yet, even in the chaos, there is so much beauty.

There’s laughter that echoes through the house, sometimes because of something silly, sometimes for no reason at all. There are milestones—and messy milestones. Little victories that might go unnoticed by the world, but mean everything to us. There are those quiet, sacred moments when I look at my kids and catch a glimpse of the people they’re becoming, and I think, “I get to be their mom.” That thought alone has carried me through some of the toughest days.

Parenting doesn’t come with a manual. I learned that fast the day I brought my oldest home from the hospital. And no two parenting journeys look the same. There are seasons of pure joy, and there are seasons that feel like sheer survival. I’ve had to learn to let go of the idea that I need to do it all on my own. I’ve leaned on the support of other parents. I’ve asked for help, even when it was hard. And I’ve reminded myself that perfection isn’t the goal, presence is.

So this month, in honor of National Parents’ Day, I want to pause and recognize all of us who are simply doing the best we can.

Whether you’re a birth parent, adoptive parent, foster parent, bonus parent, grandparent raising grandchildren, or a chosen parent, your love matters. Your consistency matters. YOU matter.

Let’s keep building each other up. Let’s offer grace instead of guilt. Let’s remind ourselves—and each other—that even on the hardest days, we are doing something deeply meaningful.

Because at the heart of parenting lies a quiet, powerful truth: we are shaping lives with our love. It may be messy. It may be imperfect. But it is real and it is enough.

From one parent to another: Happy National Parents’ Day. You’re doing better than you think.

With love and solidarity,
A fellow mom who gets it

(Edited and Enhanced by ChatGPT)

By Kayla Myers, Family Peer Supporter

July 29, 2024

Receiving an autism diagnosis for your child can feel overwhelming, but it's also the beginning of a journey filled with hope, learning, and growth. As a parent, you may experience a whirlwind of emotions, from confusion and fear to relief and determination. Understanding how to navigate this new path will be filled with challenges but will eventually help you to provide the best support for your child and family. Here’s a compassionate guide to help you through this journey.

1. Allow Yourself to Process Your Emotions
It’s natural to feel a range of emotions upon receiving an autism diagnosis. It is important to give yourself permission to grieve the loss of the "expected" path for your child and then start to embrace this new reality. Talking to a counselor or joining a support group can be invaluable during this time.

2. Educate Yourself About Autism
Knowledge is power. Educate yourself about autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by reading reputable sources, attending workshops, speaking with professionals, and listening to others who have been diagnosed with ASD. Understanding the spectrum and recognizing that each child with autism is unique will help you better support your child.

3. Build a Support Network
Connecting with other parents who have navigated an autism diagnosis can provide emotional support and practical advice. Look for local or online support groups, forums, Family Peer Supporters, and social media communities. Networking with professionals like pediatricians, therapists, and special education teachers can also provide guidance and resources.

4. Create a Comprehensive Plan
Work with professionals to develop an individualized plan for your child. This might include therapies, educational strategies, and interventions tailored to your child's needs. Be proactive in setting up evaluations and seeking out specialists to address areas like speech, occupational, and behavioral therapy.

5. Advocate for Your Child
Be prepared to advocate for your child in various settings, including school, therapy sessions, and medical appointments. Understand your child’s rights and work with educators and therapists to ensure they receive the appropriate accommodation and support.

6. Focus on Strengths and Interests
While addressing challenges is important, don’t forget to celebrate and nurture your child’s strengths and interests. Encourage activities that they enjoy and excel in, as these can boost their self-esteem and provide meaningful outlets for expression.

7. Promote a Positive Home Environment
Create a supportive and understanding home environment. Use clear communication, establish routines, and offer plenty of positive reinforcement. This helps your child feel secure and can reduce anxiety and behavioral challenges.

8. Practice Self-Care
Caring for a child with autism can be demanding. Don’t neglect your well-being. Make time for activities that rejuvenate you, seek respite care when needed, and lean on your support network. Taking care of yourself ensures you’re better equipped to support your child.

9. Stay Flexible and Patient
The journey with autism is unique for each family. Be prepared for trial and error as you find what works best for your child. Flexibility and patience are crucial, as progress may come in small, incremental steps.

10. Celebrate Milestones
Acknowledge and celebrate your child’s achievements, no matter how small they may seem. Each milestone is a testament to their hard work and growth, and recognizing these moments reinforces positive behavior and motivation.

Navigating an autism diagnosis as a parent is a journey filled with challenges and triumphs. By educating yourself, building a support network, advocating for your child, and focusing on their strengths, you can provide a nurturing and empowering environment for your child. Remember, you are not alone on this path, and with patience, resilience, and love, you can help your child thrive.
To find more information about navigating a diagnosis as a parent or caregiver, check out https://mtpeernetwork.talentlms.com. Soon you will find many training’s built by parents and caregivers based on their own lived experiences.

(Written by Kayla Myers and ChatGPT was used to build an outline)

by Bill Deavel, Peer Support Coordinator

April 4, 2023

What an amazing subject to talk about. This will be my first time getting share with you on the topic of forgiveness. I would like to start off with saying if recovery is possible, so is forgiveness. I believe that it is hard to have one without the other. As I was growing up I had examples of forgiveness in my life. My parent and grandparents modeled forgiveness to me as I was growing up in a variety of ways. As a child I based forgiveness on if it benefited me, I applied forgiveness somewhat selfishly. I would forgive, if you did or I got what I wanted. You see there were conditions on my forgiveness.

As I became a teenager forgiveness for me became something that I wanted to extend, however there was fear attached to it. Am I going to get treated the same way? When I was twelve years old, I was going to a private school. Let’s qualify my behaviors at this time. I was full of energy, I had some learning disabilities and some mental health diagnosis so I wasn’t the best behaved student in the class. I would get sent to the principals’ office once a week. The principal most likely was doing the best he could with the skills that he had to try and correct my behaviors. I can remember getting paddled by the principal and having no bad felling about that interaction. The interaction that I did have with him that affected me was all verbal. I carried those words he spoke to me into my adult life. I still have a hard time thinking of that period of time. He HURT me emotionally and spiritually. I will not forget the emotions that I was unprepared to have, that I didn’t understand how to process. I was scared of the thoughts that I was having, knowing that my thoughts were not what I would normally be thinking. I wanted to hurt him back and what I was thinking was wrong and I knew that. Anger, resentment around that situation only got worse until my parent took me out of that private school. Remember I am twelve years old. Forgiveness on that situation didn’t happen until I was in my forties. Forgiveness for me has been a process of understanding who I am and understanding that I have a part in things. As I share this example with you I wonder - have I forgiven, this is the work we do when we are in recovery.

Today I have a healthier way of dealing with forgiveness. While working on my recovery I had to learn to forgive myself. I think the hardest thing that I had to forgive myself for was abandoning my three children. I still work on this today. Forgiving myself for the decisions that I made in my life has been a process. There are times in my recovery where things come up and I have taken things back and I am punishing myself for past mistakes. When I recognize those times I choose to forgive myself for those things and I move forward. It is a process for me.

Forgiving others has been a learning experience. When working through some of my trauma I had to come to terms with the idea that just because I forgive someone doesn’t mean that they get to be a part of my life. I struggled with that for a period of time. My thinking was if I forgave, the slate was wiped clean and I had to accept that person back in my life. I had to learn that I could forgive and that I had the option of not giving that person the opportunity to ever hurt me again. I learned how to set a boundary.

As my recovery continues to grow, forgiveness for myself and other is good medicine. Forgiveness can be difficult to extend. My experience with forgiveness is that it can heal the soul. I am fortunate to have a support system in place that can help with the process of forgiveness. This article that I am sharing with you has been healing for me. Thank you for letting me share this with you.