“Will They Be Okay?” — The Unspoken Weight Parents Carry
If you’ve ever sat across from a parent of a neurodivergent child, you’ve probably heard a version of the same quiet question: “Will they be okay?”
It’s not just about grades or behavior or fitting in. It’s about the big things:
Will they thrive? Will they find friends?
Will they go to college?
Will they be independent, successful, and—most of all—happy?
For many families who come to The Highlands School, those questions have been a constant presence in their lives for years. They’ve watched their child struggle in classrooms not built for them. They’ve heard the subtle (and not-so-subtle) messages that something is wrong, that their child is too much or not enough. And they’ve carried the weight of uncertainty, hoping someone, somewhere, could finally see what they see: a child full of potential.
That’s what makes the recent comments from parents so powerful. In the last few weeks, we’ve heard from mothers who say they’ve been brought to tears watching their children succeed—not just academically, but also personally. They’re seeing confidence where there once was fear. They’re seeing growth, independence, curiosity, and joy. One mom said, “I didn’t know if we’d ever get to this point. But we did—because of Highlands.”
As another school year begins, most parents are asking the usual questions: Do we have all the supplies? Are the shoes the right size? But other parents are asking something deeper—Can we really do this again? Highlands parents discover that back-to-school doesn’t have to mean back to struggle.
The Highlands School doesn’t promise perfection or ease. What we do promise is the gift of learning how to learn—how to face challenges with strategy instead of shame. We promise small classes, skilled teachers, and research-based methods that work with a child’s brain, rather than against it. We promise community, compassion, and connection.
And for many families, that makes all the difference.
Because here, back to school means forward in confidence.