What Parenting Taught Me About Embracing Plan B

Hey family, it’s Michael, back again with a Tuesday message.

This weekend didn’t go quite as planned, the kids were under the weather, except for Eli and me. And yet, somehow, it still became one of those weekends that reminded me just how much parenting teaches us to adapt.

And that’s where it hit me again, this life teaches you to be flexible in ways you never imagined.

Before becoming a parent of two, including one child with autism and sensory processing needs, I used to think flexibility meant rescheduling a meeting or adjusting a deadline.

Now, it means reading your child’s cues, shifting expectations, and learning to find peace in Plan B (or C… or D).

We didn’t check anything off our weekend to-do list.

But we did something important.

We adapted.

We created a calm environment between sniffles.

Because here’s what parenting keeps teaching me:

Just because something didn’t happen the way we expected doesn’t mean it wasn’t meaningful.

Just because the moment wasn’t “planned” doesn’t mean it didn’t matter.

And maybe that’s the gift hidden in weekends like this.

Because this lesson, adapting, adjusting, staying grounded when plans fall apart, it’s not just about parenting.

It’s the same resilience we carry into our business, our work, our leadership, our everyday decisions.

Sometimes a project stalls, a plan falls through, or a launch doesn’t land the way we hoped. But that doesn’t mean it wasn’t worth doing.

You gain insight. You gain perspective. You grow in ways that no checklist or perfect outcome could teach you.

And those skills? That quiet strength? No one can take that from you.

If you’re walking this path too, parenting through unpredictability, adjusting to the needs of your child, managing the daily pivots, I see you.

This week was a perfect reminder that parenting flexibility, especially in autism or special needs families, isn’t a setback. It’s a strength.

And truthfully? I didn’t always think this way.

Writing these weekly reflections didn’t just come from what we’ve lived, they came from years of growing, stumbling, and learning to respond instead of react.

It’s taken time to see progress in the pause, meaning in the mess, and strength in the small pivots.

But that’s what this journey does, it changes you, slowly and deeply.

Have a great week ahead!

P.S. If you missed our recent newsletters, you can catch up here:

➡️ July 1st Newsletter: Trying Is Its Own Kind of Progress Why even the quiet attempts matter.

➡️ July 8th Edition: Fireworks Through the Window Choosing peace over pressure on the holidays.

P.P.S. If this resonates with you, I’d love for you to join our newsletter community. Real stories, real moments, no fluff. Subscribe Here!

Kind Regards,
Michael Pereira
Dad I Advocate I Founder of The Autism Voyage®

Parent Tip of the Week:

Your beneficiary designations can make or break your long-term plan.

When you're raising a child with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical needs, even the smallest paperwork decisions matter. Naming the wrong beneficiary, or leaving it blank, can accidentally disqualify your child from critical government benefits or disrupt your wishes entirely.

That’s why I recently shared a carousel on LinkedIn:
5 Critical Beneficiary Mistakes to Avoid in Special Needs Planning.
It's a quick breakdown of where families often get tripped up — and how to stay one step ahead.

Planning ahead isn’t about perfection. It’s about protecting what matters most.

It’s worth a read, and maybe a share with someone who might need it.

📢 Important Reminders

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