Lean into the informal supports around us as parents.

I’m Suzanne—a mum, occupational therapist, and long-time listener to the quiet wisdom that families carry. Lead Together is a space where parents lead, services follow, and your vision for your child’s life is honoured from the start. You are the expert. I’m here to walk beside you.

Dear fellow parent,

Thank you for meeting me here again. Whether today has brought you laughter, tears, or something wobbly in between, I’m grateful you're reading. I hope you had some time during the week to visit An Seomra Ciúin.

In my first Lean In newsletter, I invited us to lean into our signature strengths—the unique gifts that help us stay grounded and connected when things get hard. Today, I want to explore another kind of leaning in: one that brings us closer to the quiet, resilient power of informal support.

Because sometimes, support doesn’t wear a name badge or come with an appointment time.

It’s the neighbour who waves from across the road and knows your worries. It’s the cousin who brings over scones when words won’t do.It’s the friend who doesn’t ask “How are you?” with expectation of a response, but who sits beside you, shoulder to shoulder, saying “I’ve got time, how can I help?”

When we’re raising children with developmental differences, professional services can be essential—but they aren’t the whole story. Often, it’s the invisible scaffolding of everyday care—the grandparents, aunties, sports coaches, school bus drivers, friends from our exercises classes, and chosen family—that sustains us.

These informal supports may not come with a Individual Family Support plan, but they carry wisdom, warmth, and a kind of love that isn’t documented in any file.

This week, I invite you to lean in to the unexpected places of support in your life. To notice who holds space for you and your child—gently, quietly, without fanfare.

And if it feels possible, try this:

Pause and reflect: Who has helped you carry something heavy—emotionally, practically, or spiritually—in the past week or month?

Contact them or simply acknowledge: You don’t have to write a thank-you card (though you can!), but maybe just name them to yourself.

Ask yourself: What would it look like to nurture one of these connections, even a little?What do I offer back—through presence, care, or simply the act of noticing?

You are a parent. But you’re also a community member. A neighbour. A loved one. And you deserve to feel the web of care that surrounds you—even when it’s quiet or unconventional.

So this week, if it feels right, lean in not just to your own strength, but to the strength of those around you.

A Glimpse Ahead

Next, we’ll continue our journey through the L-E-A-D invitations:

• Engage with purpose and presence.

• Adapt with resilience and creativity.

• Discover new insights about ourselves and others.

And as always:

Before you close this email, take one breath for yourself, and one for your child.Not the child the world expects— the child that doesn’t need fixing and we become the kind of community that can hold them.

Take all of the care,

Suzanne

You're receiving this because you're part of Lead Together—a slow, relational space for parents nurturing children with developmental differences.

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