Holding Both: Our Nerves and Our Hope as Solomon Begins ABA

Starting something new for your child is never simple—especially when it involves intensive support like Applied Behavior Analysis. This June, Solomon will begin ABA therapy, and if I’m being honest, I’m stepping into this season with a mix of nerves, questions, and cautious hope.

As a parent, you want to make the right decisions. You research, ask questions, and try to filter through opinions that can be all over the map. ABA therapy is one of those areas—highly structured, widely used, and often discussed with both strong support and strong concerns. We’ve taken time to consider what feels right for Solomon, and now we’re moving forward.

ABA therapy focuses on building skills—communication, daily living, social interaction—through repetition, reinforcement, and data-driven strategies. For Solomon, those areas matter. His ability to communicate his needs, regulate his emotions, and safely navigate the world are things we think about every single day.

Still, knowing the goals doesn’t remove the emotions.

There’s a level of vulnerability in handing part of your child’s development over to a team. Will they truly understand him? Will they see him, not just behaviors? Will this help him grow in ways that respect who he is?

Those are real questions, and I’m not pretending to have all the answers yet.

What I do know is this: we are going into this with clear expectations. We want therapy that builds independence without taking away identity. We want progress that feels meaningful, not forced. And we will be watching closely, advocating when needed, and adjusting if something doesn’t feel right.

At the same time, there is hope.

Hope that Solomon gains new ways to express himself.Hope that frustration decreases because he can communicate more clearly.Hope that everyday routines become a little easier for him—and for us.

This is not a “perfect solution” post. It’s a real one.

We’re nervous.We’re hopeful.And we’re willing to take this step because we love him enough to try.

If you’ve been in this place before—starting ABA or considering it—I’d genuinely value your perspective. What helped? What would you do differently?

We’ll keep sharing this journey as it unfolds.