An old friend was on Facebook talking about essay questions she needed to write for a job and the struggles she was having getting started .  Quickly I responded and offered her some help.  I got her to break down the questions into smaller parts and take notes outlining what to write for each question.  We brainstormed some ideas and it took all of about five minutes.

Then we talked about our kids. Her son is older than Ryan but they attended the same preschool eons ago.  She said her son was struggling with homework and school, that he was just diagnosed with a learning disability, and she felt there might be more the school is missing.

WOW.  Suddenly I told her a ton more info than I think she ever wanted to hear.  I gave her a quick and dirty guide to fighting the school for the help he needs and I immediately told her to get an independent diagnosis of all his issues before taking on the school.  The conversation ended with me telling her I was available to meet up and talk if she ever needed someone to help her find her way through the maze of learning disabilities.

Often I feel like I am lost in the things I do. I write I regularly but often think of myself as a hack. Looking at her essay questions I had her answers outlined in less than a few minutes. Blogging to me is a hobby, but really I have been making a small income writing for others for almost eighteen months now.  The next big author I am not, but someone in the world pays me to write.  I find that idea somewhere in the pinch me range.

Then when we started talking special education and I had more info than I thought possible.  When I feel lost in the maze of special needs and learning I often feel powerless, ignorant, and unknowing of what to fight for because I am looking forward. I forget about all that I have learned that can help someone at the beginning of a similar journey.  Being able to help her try to find some answers for her son made me feel empowered.  I don’t have all the answers in navigating the system and helping Ryan but I sure have a clue.  Much more of a clue than I ever thought I had.