“We Try Again Tomorrow”: The Words That Carried Me Through a Hard Day – Finding Cooper’s Voice

He was really struggling. And while no one got hurt, and no property was damaged, he wasn’t being safe.

They did the right thing to call. They care about him. And I appreciate that.

Only this isn’t the first time since starting high school. It’s also not the second or third or even fifth.

School is really hard for my son. He also wants to be there. And he’s in the right spot. I have never been more confident of that.

As I sat in the entryway I watched the other students walk in and out.

Big, tall boys. Some looked like men. Young women too. There was laughter. And gossip. I saw excitement and friendship.

As I sat there I felt the weight of having a child in special education. It’s more complicated than I can really articulate.

School should be fun. It should be exciting. It should be easy.

I felt the tears coming. See, I have a really bad cold. Not that it matters but when you are a mother, a cold hits hard.

I watched my nearly 15 year old son walk out with his teacher as two more students walked in.

They looked the same age. They have practice tonight. Then dinner. They are excited. I bet they are close to driving now. Or at least in driver’s education.

My son was carrying a blanket. And his speech device. He looked sad. But happy to see me. He reached for my phone.

The songs of Barney filled the air. It hit hard.

I looked up at his teacher, whom I adore. He is good. He is kind. He believes in my boy and his students.

“What happens next?” I said it sadly.

“We try again tomorrow. That’s what we do next.”

His words meant so much in that moment.

With autism, it’s all so complicated. And we try again. That’s what we do and will continue to do.

I’m so thankful for people who believe in my boy. And are willing to try again.