I was scrolling through Facebook the other day and saw a post that took me back a little. It laid out the year 2021 in words like this: Twenty Twenty One. Say that to out loud yourself……get it? Hear it? I guess many people would feel as though it is true, that 2020 was the year that defeated us, the year that WON.
I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve felt like giving up many times this past year. Life with special needs kids has always been hard but this year just seemed like the icing on the cake. There was that week back in March where we were told that this “quarantine” thing would only last a week or so. Then a week turned in weeks, a month into months, and so it continued.
Every little detail, every ounce of hard work that I put into getting my children the services they needed was stripped away from them within a week. As time went on, we started to get some services back gradually as fall neared. Things seemed to get back to some sort of “normal” although not really sure if that is the right word to use or if there is such a thing as “normal” anymore.
As we came around the corner to the end of the year, my girls took their turns in the hospital with relapses of seizures. I was once again reminded of how strong they truly are. I could go on and on about the many struggles of 2020, the year of defeat, but I’m done. Instead, I’m going to re-focus on some positives of 2020 and rename it the year of “OVERCOMING.”
We found a new house that met all our family’s needs in the right timing and location. Belle learned how to walk independently. Bryleigh learned how to write her letters and her name. Bryleigh learned how to start reading short sentences with sight words. Bryleigh and Belle started receiving additional therapy services and made big gains. And I found a tribe of women who truly understand this journey and feel supported.
So here’s to 2021, what I’m calling the year of “REDEMPTION.” Here’s to claiming happiness, health, and hope!
