Parenting Through the Pandemic: Navigating Challenges, Finding Community, and Embracing Inclusion by Julie Kratz

I found out I was pregnant February 29, 2020. I had no idea that the world would be shutting down in the coming weeks. Having an infant that was born during the early times of covid, it was challenging to navigate. She didn't have the social experiences that my older daughter had early on. She has been slow to develop her speech, has severe temper tantrums and gets easily overwhelmed in new spaces.

What has helped the most is having a community of parents, educators and caregivers that understand the unique challenges of a special needs child. It can feel very daunting and overwhelming to find the tools and information and support that you need when you need it. That's why I believe so much in the Little Allies and our ability to help other parents, caregivers and educators support these conversations earlier.

As we navigate speech therapy and a potential autism diagnosis, having this community has strengthened my resolve and commitment to inclusion. All of our brains work differently, and we shouldn't judge differences, especially of small children. Without resources though it can be difficult to know what to do. That leaves many well-intentioned parents, caregivers and educators frozen and afraid of saying or doing the wrong thing. Rather than inaction, we need our allies more than ever to advocate for positive change.