Dear Parents,
As someone who once worked closely with you before stepping into the world of parenthood, I owe you an apology. I never fully understood what it truly meant to raise children, especially those with unique needs. I often saw my students as my own, yet I realize now that it wasn’t quite the same.
Looking back, I regret not recognizing how much you had already been through by the time I met you. My youthful optimism, fresh from college and eager to make an impact, might have come off as either annoying or, hopefully, a source of encouragement. Now, as I encounter teachers who look barely old enough to order a drink, I completely understand the skepticism and frustration you must have felt toward my naivety.
I also want to apologize for those days when I showed up at work and wasn’t fully present. Maybe I was distracted by personal issues or feeling the weight of burnout from my job. Perhaps I had a late night out or was just fighting off a cold. Regardless, my lack of energy was unfair to your child. Working with people is not something you can take lightly, and I often forgot that.
I wish I could take back the moments when I glanced at my student roster and thought, “Oh no, not them.” Each name represented a unique individual with their own personality and dreams, deserving of the same respect I sought from them.
I regret not staying in touch with many of you; your insights would be invaluable to me today. If I ever expressed frustration over being tired, I had no idea that the exhaustion brought on by autism is on a whole different level.
I also apologize for my excitement over unexpected snow days and vacations. Now I fully understand how those can disrupt your routines and create chaos.
And if I ever offered you a look of condescending pity, I’m sorry. What you needed was empathy, not sympathy. Pity implies your child is merely a situation to be avoided, rather than a wonderful individual to be celebrated.
Please know that you’re often in my thoughts, and I reflect on what I could have done differently during our time together. I genuinely appreciate the journey we shared.
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In summary, I’ve learned a great deal about the responsibilities of parenting since my twenties. I now fully appreciate the challenges you face, and I am grateful for the lessons I’ve learned along the way.