My oldest son was diagnosed with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) in 2008.

Due to his sensory issues at the time, he was really struggling just to get through the day. All I could think of back then was what my son's future was going to look like. Well, here we are 8 years later and he has surpassed every single hope and dream I ever had for him. It's been a long hard road to get here. I've learned a lot along the way. I know many of you are going through the same things that I went through back in 2008. I wanted to write this letter to my younger self in hopes it will help you if you’re going through similar struggles in your life right now.

Dear 2008 Kelly,

First and foremost, it’s so important for me to tell you that you are not a failure as a mother!

Right now, your world feels like it’s crumbling down all around you. The truth is that things aren’t falling apart, they are actually falling together. It’s going to be hard to see this as the truth for some time, but just trust me on this.

Every single thing you are doing now is making a difference. Even when you do things wrong, you are still making a difference. You’re going to mess up a lot, but it’s ok. Treat every failure as a learning experience and keep moving forward.

You feel like you don’t know anything right now. You don’t, and that’s okay. You’re going to learn along the way. You have this strong faith and hope for a better future for your family.... hold on to that when things get hard (because that’s going to give you the strength to push through).

You feel alone and isolated right now. You think that you have to do it all by yourself. You’re going to try to do it all by yourself at first, but it’s going to leave you sick and defeated.

The SPD diagnosis is going to change everything for you and your family. You finally have a name for all the chaos. You’re going to be all-consumed with helping your sensory kiddos. You will forget about yourself, you will forget about all your friends, you will even forget about your husband. All you care about is your children and getting them better. A few years down the road your children will get much better. You’ll stop, look up, and realize how far removed you are from everyone else.

You’re a shell of who you used to be now. It’s ok because this is all part of what things feel like when they’re falling apart, but are really falling together. You’ll start taking care of yourself again. You won’t get better overnight, but you will get your mojo back over time. Had you not stopped taking care of yourself, you wouldn’t understand the true importance of daily self-care. You’ll learn you can’t be a good mother, wife, or friend if you’re not a good “YOU” first. You’ll committ to making sure you make yourself a priority too.

Part of your self-care, is knowing that you’re a multifaceted person....you need different things to fill you up. No one person can fulfill every need that you have and you should not expect them to. You have other interests and people to keep you balanced and happy (note: balance comes from accepting the fact that things won’t be perfectly balanced, life is always ebbing and flowing).  Go on those girls’ weekends. They will be nourishment for your soul.

You’re going to meet so many wonderful people along the way. It’s going to take some trial and error, but eventually you will find your team of people that help your children and your family. Once you find them, you all will begin to instantly thrive. As your family member’s needs change, the team evolves with them. The core members will be there through it all.

This is probably one of the most important things: Let your intuition be your guide....no matter who you’re dealing with. As the years go on, you learn this is your super power. ALWAYS trust in your intuition....no matter what.

Trust the process. You’re so anxious right now. Your anxiety about everything is going to be a big struggle for you. No matter what happens in your life, you’ll always get through it. Sometimes it’s going to take longer than you expect, other times it’s not going to happen the way you hope it will. You’re only seeing the small picture right now. It’s going to be hard, but keep pushing through. Don’t give up. Take action! Failure is all part of the process to success. Don’t ever let it stop you. You’ll look back years from now and realize that it all makes sense. You’ll be grateful for the struggle, and grateful you didn’t give up.

With much love,

2016 Kelly

This is my personal journey and I’ve made a lot of mistakes along the way.

Hopefully some of my trials can help you not make the same mistakes I made.

Here’s what helped me get my mojo back:

1. ALWAYS trust your intuition!

2. Small daily changes, make big lasting changes in the long run.

3. Self-care is a necessity.

4. Make your closest relationships a priority. They will help you through the good and the bad. Make sure to make time for your significant other, friends, and family. Isolation is a killer.

5. Have fun!! Make sure to laugh every single day!!!

6. You can’t do it alone. Surround yourself with people whose strengths are your weaknesses.

7. Faith and action are the antidotes to fear.

8. Focus on progress, not perfection.

For more information on world premier SPD treatment visit:  www.spdstar.org/landing-page/treatment

About the Author: Kelly Jurecko is the President of SPD Parent Zone and host of the SPD Parent Zone Podcast. She is a mother of three children; two of whom were diagnosed with Sensory Processing Disorder. When her first child was diagnosed with SPD 8 years ago, she felt hopeless, alone, defeated, and like the worst mother in the world. When her son received that diagnosis, everything changed. She went full throttle into the unknown world of SPD and did everything she could to get her son the help he needed. She made a promise to herself that if her son got better she would spend the rest of her life helping other families like hers. She continues to hold true to that promise today….SPD Parent Zone is a result of that.

Website: www.spdparentzone.org Email: kelly@spdparentzone.org