Hello, September. I am glad to see you!
August was a lot—in MLP's life, in the world—just a lot.
I spent the last week in knots. It was the first week of school, and my little family was bracing for the worst. The last quarter of my son's Kindergarten year was rough for various reasons — mental health concerns, his class schedule changing every other day, and a team (minus his primary teacher) that didn't understand him and openly expressed resentment for the amount of care/effort they had to extend (which in the grand scheme wasn't extravagant or outside of the realm contracted care). In meetings and moments like those, I was thankful for my wife, Sara, a 14-year veteran Special Education teacher. She spoke to them with experience, poise, and a sharp edge that clearly said, "You really don't want to come for me and my family. Because I will own you." We are both the fiercest advocates for our kid, but when I was ready to go off, Sara spoke into the room with knowledge and privilege I didn't have.
This year, his team shifted, and while we were initially surprised by this, it was ultimately the best thing. My son had a fantastic first week—no negative reports, no concerned calls home, no meltdowns or panic attacks. I got texts and emails from his teachers, past and present, saying how awesome his days have been and how they are proud of him and his response to all the change.
I am thankful that my wife could speak a language my son's team understood, ultimately shifting the landscape for this school year. Still, one of the things I appreciated most about Sara was that she always ensured that there was space for my voice. She didn't talk over me, she didn't push herself ahead, she didn't tell me to calm down or to be quiet or to let her handle things. We were in this together, each with different skills and gifts to bring to the table. When we felt out the vibe of the room, we knew how we needed to proceed.
How are you able to speak into spaces where advocacy is needed? Are you lifting the voices of the most vulnerable, without talking over them? In what ways is your privilege an asset to combating systems of White Supremacy?
-Jesy
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