Trust Your Shot

As I sit down to write this, I can hear the movie Elf playing in the background. My kitchen floor shows remains of my son’s favorite food, chicken flautas. Eventually, I will turn the movie off and sweep the floor. But for now, I’ll sit and write.  

My heart feels heavy from a conversation I had with a friend and fellow special needs parent. “Allison, you know more than you show; trust your shot,” they said.  

They were referring to basketball. A game I know next to nothing about other than the fact that in order to succeed in getting the basketball into the net, the shooting player must “trust his shot.” 

I am blessed to be a part of many social settings in which other special needs parents are doing the hard work of advocating for their kids. They trust their shot. Whether working with insurance companies, educational institutions, or doctor’s offices, these parents trust that they know what their child needs. 

There is a framed Bible verse that hangs in my kitchen. It reads “God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, of love and self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7.  Here’s what I think it means: feelings of unhealthy fear and timidness aren’t from God. Perhaps, God is reminding us to “trust our shot.”  

It can be scary to justify to an insurance company why your child needs 30 hours a week of services and not 25. It can be intimidating to walk into a room full of school staff who are ready to tell you everything that your child can’t do. It can be daunting to explain to the doctor that your child isn’t just a late talker.  

It’s hard to advocate for your child. People will try to convince you that you are wrong or that their way is better. But friends, trust your shot.  

You guys are awesome, I mean it!  

Allison Fournier