People often see me sharing Isla’s achievements, her smiles and all the things she can do.
And trust me, I am proud of her every single day.
But something I don’t talk about enough is the grief that comes alongside raising a child with complex needs.
Not grief for Isla.
Never Isla.
I grieve for the things that should have been easier for her.
The things other families sometimes take for granted.
The endless appointments.
The uncertainty.
The waiting.
The questions that never seem to have answers.
I grieve for the moments when I watch children her age doing things she finds difficult.
And then I feel guilty for feeling that way, because Isla is the greatest gift I’ve ever been given.
The truth is that both things can exist at the same time.
I can be heartbroken for the challenges she faces and incredibly proud of the way she faces them.
I can wish things were easier for her while loving her exactly as she is.
Being Isla’s mum has taught me that strength doesn’t always look like staying positive.
Sometimes strength is simply getting up the next day and doing it all again.
And if you’re another parent carrying both love and grief in the same heart, please know you’re not alone.
Chloe x
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