Since I was a little girl, I knew I always wanted to be a mom. I knew I always wanted to stay home with my kids, take them on fun adventures, play dates, that life would just come to them naturally, and they would be easy to love.

What I found out was that a different motherhood path was chosen for me. One that would be like a soap opera on some days. One that would push me to my limits, to only break me down, but then at the same time fill me with a love and inspiration to make life better...

I found this fabulous short essay a long time ago. It's a parent's view of what it's like to have a special needs child. It's been quoted in pretty much every special needs book I've read. I'd like to share it with you all.

"When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip -
to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The
Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some
handy phrases in Italian. It's all very e...