Balance
Parenting is an ever-shifting balance between holding on and letting go. Holding on allows us to build skills with our children, to share love and reassurance, and to guarantee appropriate supervision. Letting go allows our children to experience the broader world, to do things in new and different environments and to find out if they prefer to do things differently than their parents.
On this big day in my fifth grader’s exciting middle school life, I let go by refraining from volunteering for the field trip. I let him go to the Connecticut Science Center with his teachers, aide and classmates. I held on by volunteering at the Halloween social. His aide would still be there with him but having me there allowed him to leave whenever he was done…instead of waiting for the predetermined ‘end time.’
Embracing the balance and making sure my buddy has lots of fun experiences and stays safe along the way…win, win.
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About the Author
Erica Mauro is a mom to two teenage boys, Will who is neurotypical and Michael with Autism and cognitive delays. She holds a BA in Psychology from Colgate University and a Masters of Psychology in Education from Columbia Teacher’s College. Before staying home with her children, she worked as an elementary school teacher. For five years, she served on the Board of Directors of the Molly Ann Tango Memorial Foundation, a charity dedicated to enriching the lives of children with special needs. In partnership with her husband Dave, she aspires to parent by using daily life as an opportunity for therapeutic intervention, seizing on real experiences as opportunities to build skills and strategies for Michael in a joyful, loving home environment. On the tougher early days, she just tried to get everyone safely to bedtime and start fresh in the morning. *wink* 
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