Too Much

     I just talked to a mother whose recently diagnosed daughter is really struggling. Her assessment determined an Autism Spectrum Disorder but what is really overwhelming right now is the intense anxiety she is experiencing. This mother's entire efforts are geared towards getting her daughter to school, getting her to stay there, and then debriefing her experiences there which of course, vary from day to day. This mother is overwhelmed. Many of us can have days like this with typical children but with specials needs kids these days are more common than not. They can take their toll on the family, their marriage and the other kids.
     I felt very useless.What could I do to ease this mother's experience? How could I help her? It turns out there was not a lot I could do. Sometimes when things feel too much, when we're overwhelmed, all we can do is share our story for a few minutes. It's not a lot, but it helps. I have been in similar shoes and have felt my  own load lightened by sharing it with someone who cares.Whether we're the teller or the listener, sometimes that's all we can do.