By Paint Her in Color Founder, Laura Spiegel

Last week, Paint Her in Color officially turned one. And I couldn’t be more thankful to all of you.

Nearly 10,000 families of children with special medical, developmental, or behavioral health care needs have come to our site for emotional support. 1,000 families have joined our Facebook community. Caregivers and healthcare professionals from over 40 countries have stopped by to see what in the world it means to “paint a child in color.” And guests bloggers and Mom Moments contributors from as far away as Ireland are some of my newest friends and sources of inspiration.

Raising a child with a special health care need is not always easy. The choices we make as parents are not black and white. The stakes are high. And for many of us, the swirl of emotions is constant. Hope and fear, joy and sadness, frustration and gratitude, determination and fatigue, and the never-ending want - no, the need - to push on. To lift our children and our families up. To celebrate them. To help them thrive.

If the last year has taught me anything, it’s that life that can two steps forward, one step back. But we are doing our best. And above all, we are not alone.

Together, we are embracing everything we can to help our children lead long and full lives.

We are refusing to define our children solely by their health.

We are learning to balance daily care with the unexpected messiness and vibrancy of childhood.

We are nurturing the blessings that come alongside the battles.

We are learning to treat ourselves with kindness.

We are painting our children in color.

From the bottom of my heart, I thank you all. And I can’t wait to see what the next year brings.

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