Learning Through the Work

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about the journey I’ve been on, not just as a professional working with autistic children, but as a person who’s constantly learning, growing, and figuring things out along the way.

I’ve learned that growth isn’t always obvious or fast. Sometimes it’s quiet and slow. Sometimes it’s messy. And more often than not, it doesn’t come from “getting it right,” but from messing up, reflecting, and trying again.

I’ve always been someone who craves knowledge. I genuinely love learning new things about parenting, relationships, regulation, the brain… all of it. I can lose hours reading, listening, and digging into new ideas, because I want to do better, be better for the families I work with, and for myself. But I’ve learned that all the knowledge in the world doesn’t replace experience. The real lessons happen in the moments with kids and families, in the pauses, the ruptures, and the repairs.

And I’ve made my fair share of mistakes both as a professional and as a business owner. There have been times I overcommitted, didn’t communicate clearly enough, or let fear hold me back from taking important steps. I’ve struggled with self-doubt, wondering if I was really equipped to do this work in the way I wanted to. But each time I fell short, I learned something. Sometimes those lessons were hard. Sometimes they hurt. But they always moved me forward.

What’s kept me going is this deep sense of purpose. I believe in what I do. I believe in play. I believe in connection. I believe in the power of showing up for children and their families, even when it’s hard, even when I don’t have all the answers. And I believe that I, too, am a work in progress, just like the kids I support. And that’s okay!

I’m learning to give myself the same grace and curiosity I offer to the families I work with. To stay open. To keep asking questions. To keep showing up, even when I’m tired or unsure. Because at the end of the day, this is not just a job, it’s a calling. And I feel incredibly lucky to be on this path.