stacey acquavella stacey acquavella

The Email That Can Ruin a School Year

You know that “quick update” email from the school?
The one that hits your inbox and makes your stomach drop before you even open it?

Yeah. That’s September.

Read More
stacey acquavella stacey acquavella

School Starts in Two Days and I Can’t Find My Mask

School starts in 2 days and my “functioning adult” mask is missing.

Not the KN95. Not the Halloween cat face.
The one I wear for drop-off smiles, PTA potlucks, and pretending I read the 37 school emails in my inbox.

Last year’s masks don’t fit anymore:

  • The “chill mom about new math” mask? Stretched out.

  • The “on top of permission slips” mask? Lost since 2022.

  • The “yes, I have dinner planned” mask? Retired. Ashes scattered at Target.

If yours doesn’t fit either, maybe it’s time to loosen the straps.
That’s what I did and the lighter I felt, the less I cared about finding the “right” mask.

Read More
stacey acquavella stacey acquavella

What If I Had the Right Words at the Right Time?

Six months. That’s the average wait time to get an IEP moving. Six months your child spends without the support they needed yesterday. I wasted too many of those months writing ‘perfect’ emails that went nowhere. Then I learned how to write for impact and I put all my best, proven scripts in one place so other parents don’t have to lose time the way I did.

Read More
stacey acquavella stacey acquavella

What to Do After an IEP Meeting: Follow Up Steps Schools Won’t Tell You

After the IEP meeting ends, most parents are left alone to follow up, track services, and fight for what was promised. This guide breaks down what to do after an IEP meeting, how to make sure the plan is followed, and why your exhaustion is not a failure—it’s part of the system’s design.

Read More
stacey acquavella stacey acquavella

How to Advocate Without Burning Out

Burnout isn’t a badge of advocacy—it’s a warning sign. Here’s how to fight for your neurodivergent child without losing yourself in the process.

Read More
stacey acquavella stacey acquavella

Why Schools Are Failing Neurodivergent Kids (And What We’re Going to Do About It)

If you’ve ever left an IEP meeting in tears, this is for you.
Neurodivergent kids aren’t failing school—the system is failing them.
This post dives into the real reasons why, from the hidden “IEP tax” parents pay to the rigid mold our children were never meant to fit.
It’s time for a new narrative—and a smarter rebellion.

Read More