There are things many parents think but rarely say out loud.
Not because they aren’t true —
but because they feel complicated, heavy, or hard to explain.
On the hardest parenting days, the quiet thoughts tend to pile up. The ones you push down so you can keep going. Many parents caring for children with additional needs experience these feelings, and it’s okay to acknowledge them.
These are some of the things I don’t always say out loud — but I know I’m not alone in thinking.
“This Is Harder Than I Ever Expected”
I love my child deeply.
And still, this life is more complicated than I ever imagined it would be.
That doesn’t mean I regret becoming a parent.
It doesn’t mean I wish my child were different.
It simply means that caring for someone with additional needs requires more — more energy, more patience, more emotional bandwidth — than most people realize.
Acknowledging that truth doesn’t make me ungrateful.
Being honest about how I feel helps me connect with others who understand that caring deeply can be exhausting, which is essential for fostering empathy among parents.
“I’m So Tired, Even When I Rest”
Some exhaustion isn’t fixed by sleep.
It’s the kind that comes from constant decision-making.
From always being “on.”
From worrying, advocating, anticipating, and adjusting — all at once.
On hard days, I don’t always say how tired I really am, because I know people might not understand this kind of tired.
But it’s real, and recognizing this kind of tiredness helps me be kinder to myself, which is vital for nurturing self-compassion.
And it deserves compassion.
“I Don’t Always Know If I’m Doing This Right”
There are moments when doubt creeps in.
When I replay conversations.
Second-guess decisions.
Wonder if I handled something the best way I could.
Those thoughts don’t come from lack of care — they come from caring deeply and wanting to do right by my child.
Not having all the answers doesn’t mean I’m failing. It means I’m learning and growing in real time, just like many parents navigating complex needs.
It means I’m learning in real time.
“I Wish This Felt Easier Sometimes”
There are days when I wish things were simpler.
Not because I want a different child —
But because I want less struggle for them… and for us.
That wish doesn’t cancel out love.
It exists alongside it.
Two things can be true at the same time.
“I’m Doing the Best I Can With What I Have”
This is the reminder I keep coming back to.
I am showing up with the energy I have.
The information I have.
The support I have.
