Back to School Reflections (from a mom of children with special needs)

"My grace is sufficient for you..." (2 Corinthians 12:9)

When the Scale is Tipped

It's been just over one week since the yellow bus stopped in front of our house and picked up our children for another school year.

Back to school.  
Moms experience a lot of different emotions in regards to those three words.  Moms of children with special needs experience even a wider range of emotions.  Some words that came to my mind as our five children started school were:  respite, refresh, rest, but also guilt, trepidation, and WORRY.

I worry about our son feeling that he belongs.  I worry about his (sometimes) challenging behaviour.  I worry if he will have another accident at  school (he still wears pull ups).  I think about his IEP that we need to make.  I pray for extra patience for his teachers.

But then I see God's grace.  His presence sends a spirt of calmness over me.

I read encouraging notes from his EA.  I see beauty and compassion spilling out of his EA.  I see teachers and a school that make modifications and welcome him into their community.  He gets invited to birthday parties.  His siblings help him with his back pack and other school things.  His teacher sends pictures of him reading with his reading buddy.

And that's when the scale is tipped.
God's grace and peace far outweighs any worry or fear.