I learned that understanding can arrive quietly and that trust is built long before you see the results.

Some mornings don’t just challenge you as a parent. They quietly show you the limits of what love alone can fix.

This isn’t a story about speech. It’s about trust, connection, and meeting my son where he already was.

My nonverbal son doesn’t care about gifts, decorations, or Santa, but he understands the true spirit of the holidays more than most of us ever will