Story shared by Nicole Behnke, South Sound Parent to Parent

In 2017 my son Travis was referred to see a PT and OT at just 3 months old. I thought I was failing him as a mom, and it was the worst feeling I have ever felt.

After a few short months of him being in therapy they brought up SSP2P and told me I should reach out. I was very hesitant, and it took me a couple months to reach out if I am being honest. He was about a year old when he finally had his evaluation with Danielle Gardner (Family Resources Coordinator) and Erin Murray (Home Visitor). I started to realize I wasn’t alone, and these amazingly kind people were here to help me and Travis.

He got started right away with Erin and she was amazing. She came to the house every other week and played with Travis and we talked about all the accomplishments and milestones he was hitting and even all the tougher things that weren’t going right for us. She was a listening ear for me to talk and vent to all while playing and engaging with Travis to help reach goals, we set every 6 months or so. Having her come to the house was such a blessing and even more so when I had my second son Thomas. She was understanding if I wasn’t as engaged in the session because of Thomas and would give Travis the undivided attention he needed while I was attending to my newborn. When we moved she was so flexible and made arrangements for us to visit in office.

Thomas was always welcomed with open arms which was a blessing because as a stay at home mom I had no childcare for him while Travis was having his visits. Travis was getting older and hitting all sorts of milestones and our team started talking about the next steps to get him into school because he was phasing out of B-3 as sad as it was. He started going to some toddler groups which I feel helped him a lot being around other kids who weren’t his brother. Danielle and Erin helped get us set up with the developmental pre-k in our school district and made the transition so smooth but again so sad as this phase was coming to and end. I am forever grateful for all that SSP2P has done for my family.

When Sylvia Davenport (Helping Parent Transition Coordinator) came to me in a toddler group and asked me to think about becoming a helping parent, I was ecstatic! I was so excited and wanted nothing more than to help other parents who were going through life as a parent of a special child. I wanted and still want to make sure no parent goes through this alone. As if just being a parent wasn’t hard enough adding stresses of having a developmentally delayed child just made it so much harder. I became a helping parent because I know how I felt going through the waves of life alone when Travis first started PT and OT and realizing that he wasn’t going to lead a “normal” life.

I wish I would’ve reached out sooner because in my 2 short years of being apart of this program I have learned and received so much support and, friendships for both of my kids. Now that I am a helping parent and attend the weekly Mom 2 Mom group on Zoom I feel so much more connected with other families around me that are going through very similar situations. This Is a very different life we are all living these days and feeling alone and isolated are probably the top 5 feelings I feel on a regular basis but having these women to turn to and vent to and bounce ideas off of and just support me makes the hour a week I give to the group worth it. Knowing that I’m not alone and that just about every other parent out there is feeling just as overwhelmed as I am makes me feel a little less alone and overwhelmed. Our Mom 2 Mom group is about togetherness, laughing, crying, being happy, and sharing frustrations and accomplishments. I am forever grateful for this program and all it has given me and my family. I can’t imagine how much different our lives would be without everyone who’s apart of SSP2P. By far the best phone call I ever made 2 years ago.