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DREAM
💫 The 12-Year-Old Who Didn’t Look Away
Subtitle: A back-to-school reminder that helpers still exist
As we get closer to back-to-school season, I want to pause and name something many of us carry quietly.
That little knot in your stomach when you send your child into a classroom, a cafeteria, a church activity, or a new group setting and wonder, “Will they be accepted? Will they be understood? Will someone protect them if I’m not there?”
If you have ever sent your child off with a silent prayer in your heart, you are not alone.
But today, I don’t want to lead with fear.
I want to lead with hope.
About a year ago, a sweet twelve-year-old boy was asked to share a short speech with my church congregation. He introduced himself and said something that made me look up and truly listen:
“I want to be like my cousin and other people who follow Jesus. I made a list of how I can follow Jesus.”
Then he shared a story from school.
He had seen a classmate with special needs being bullied. At first, he didn’t know what to do. Isn’t that real? Even adults sometimes freeze when something hard happens right in front of us.
But this boy turned to a friend, and together they found the courage to talk to the boy doing the bullying.
The bully was actually one of their own friends.
After that conversation, the boy agreed to stop.
This twelve-year-old didn’t look away. He didn’t stay silent. He stood up. And that kind of courage is rare, especially at such a young age.
Sometimes the helper we’ve been praying for is another child learning courage in real time.
As autism parents and caregivers, we think about these things all the time.
Who will sit with our child?
Who will notice if something is wrong?
Who will choose kindness when we are not there to explain, advocate, smooth things over?
While there may be kids who misunderstand, there are also kids who see. Kids who care. Kids who act.
And our children deserve to experience that kind of friendship.
So as the school year begins, here are a few gentle ways we can prepare for both the challenges and the helpers:
Identify the support system.
Who at school already knows your child? A teacher, aide, counselor, church friend, or neighbor? Touch base early.Connect with another parent.
Ask if their child could be a lunch buddy or simply keep an eye out. Many people want to help; they just need to be asked.Practice real scenarios.
What can your child do if someone is unkind? Who can they go to? What words can they use?Teach small acts of courage.
Speaking up for yourself or someone else does not have to be loud to be brave.
Back-to-school can feel overwhelming, especially for families navigating autism, sensory needs, and social uncertainty.
But your child does not have to face it alone.
And neither do you.
Whether we are talking about school, church, the playground, or even traveling with autism, the dream is the same: our families deserve places where we feel safe enough to make memories.
So today, I’m holding onto this twelve-year-old boy with his list.
A little courage.
A little kindness.
A little reminder that compassion still shows up in unexpected places.
What is one wish or dream for your family this year?
Do you have any tips for other parents that you would like to share?
Reply to this email, I read all the answers!
First days of school can be fun- they can be hard too
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