This Mother’s Day was a quiet one spent at home, which was just right. We celebrated the night before with dinner at Texas Roadhouse — our go-to spot before the holiday rush sets in. Kay loves it there! The lively music, the dancing, and all the energy light her up. Her favorite part? When someone celebrates a birthday and the whole restaurant yells “Yee-Haw!” — she proudly joins in every time.
As the day wound down and I tucked Kay into bed, I found myself reflecting on how lucky I am to be her mom. I often say I wouldn’t be the person I am today without her — and I truly believe that. Before Kay, I rarely spoke up for myself. I was afraid of pushback or being ignored. But being her mom has changed me. She’s taught me to use my voice, even when it’s hard, because she deserves someone who will always fight for her. And that someone is me.
Honestly, writing these blog posts, sharing our journey with all of you, and speaking at the DSP Summit have all played a huge part in shaping who I am today. I never imagined myself as a writer — and definitely not as someone who could speak publicly about our life. That kind of thing used to feel so far out of reach. And truthfully? I still get nervous. LOL. But with each experience, I feel myself growing just a little more confident.
Kay and I have even been on TV a few times, and I recently wrote an article for a magazine that should be published soon — which still feels surreal!
All of this is just to say: life can be unpredictable, messy, and hard… but you can do hard things. You can face the moments that make your heart race or your hands shake — even the ones that make you think, “There’s no way I could do that.”
To those who say, ‘I couldn’t do what you do’ — yes, you could. You would. And you will, if the time ever comes. Because love gives us the kind of strength we never knew was inside us.
Be brave. Do the hard things. And whenever possible — try to enjoy the ride.