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The Kids Are Alright – At least, They Will Be [An Open Letter]

An open letter to the worried, tired parent of a differently-wired child: you're doing a great job, you don't have to solve everything, and your kids will be alright.

By Amber Willburn and Mr. Sam 3 min read
The Kids Are Alright – At least, They Will Be [An Open Letter]

Hey friend,

How are you? Are you doing alright? I heard you were looking at schools again for your amazing kiddo. It worked for a while, but it isn’t the best fit anymore. It sounds like the IEP process was a bear this year, and you just don’t know what to do now. I know you are worried that you might not be doing enough.

I also know you can’t quite figure out if you are enabling or supporting. How DOES one figure that out? There are so many options, so many choices, so many ways to maybe do it wrong…

It sounds like you are tired, worried, and feeling very, very alone.

I want to give you a big hug through the computer. Parenting is so hard. Parenting kids who don’t always fit the support systems around us can be SO much harder. There is no one book for handling the myriad of ways our kids can be different.

It can also feel like there are so many books, and they all say different things. It makes one question if there ever really IS one answer.

Deep breath, friend.

I’m here to tell you that you are doing a great job. I know you are exhausted looking at all the information and reading everything you can. It makes a difference. We can only ever do the best we can with the information we have at the time. Nobody expects you to know everything or every possible outcome. Sometimes the best decision just doesn’t pan out. That’s ok. We can always change direction.

You won’t always be in the middle of the storm. One day, you will be giving hugs and offering wisdom to another parent in the same spot. Your kids only need a few things to grow and thrive.

Beyond the necessity for life (food, shelter, water, air, etc), they need love, they need to feel safe, they need to know someone is on their side, fighting for them. That’s you. You are the one in their corner, always and forever. You are amazing!

When the what-ifs hit you (what if my child never goes to college, what if they never tie their shoes, what if I should have kept them in fill-in-the-blank school, and on and on), remember that you don’t have to solve every problem right now.

You don’t have to figure out all the steps from kindergarten to retirement.

Sometimes, all you need to help a child is to just solve the next thing.

I ask you to build some space and identity what is really worrying you right now, at this moment. Is it something you can solve? If so, let’s make a plan and solve it. If not, let that worry go. It might come back, and you can honor it, but you can release it again. Your children will be alright. They have you, and as we’ve seen, you are one heck of a supporter to have!

Take care, friend.

PS- if this is validating for you, please pay it forward —> send this to 2 other people/groups who need to hear this message as much as you did, today.

About Young Scholars Academy

Young Scholars Academy is a WASC-accredited virtual learning community offering 200+ live online courses and camps for gifted or 2e children ages 5–18, in classes of 6–8 students, led by neurodivergent mentors. Young Scholars Academy currently serves 1,200+ families across 47+ states and 17 countries, with a 93% semester-over-semester re-enrollment rate. ESA funding is accepted in 10+ states.

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You don't have to figure this out alone.

Right now, a kid who thinks like your kid is in a class they chose, with a mentor who was once just like them, surrounded by friends who don't think they're weird... they think they're interesting.

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COMMON QUESTIONS

Questions Parents Ask.

Everything you need to know about Young Scholars Academy.

What is Young Scholars Academy?

YSA is a WASC-accredited virtual village for gifted, twice-exceptional, and differently-wired students ages 5–25. We offer 200+ live online courses (from Minecraft Redstone Engineering to AP Psychology to Mock Trial) with a maximum of 6–8 students per course, taught by 20 hand-selected mentor teachers who are neurodivergent themselves. We serve 1,200+ families across 47+ states and 17 countries. This is not a marketplace. It's a school and a community.

How does it work?

During Fall and Spring semesters, courses meet once a week, live on Zoom, 50 minutes per session. During Summer, camps run Monday through Friday, one week at a time. When your child enrolls in 3 or more courses, they get free access to Homeroom Social Club — a weekly gathering with a consistent group of friends. Between courses, students hang out on our virtual campus where they walk as avatars, eat lunch together, and build real friendships with kids from around the world who finally get them.

Who is this for?

Gifted, twice-exceptional, and differently-wired students, including kids with ADHD, autism, giftedness, anxiety, dyslexia, and PDA. No diagnosis required. If your child is clever, quirky, and hasn't found their people yet, they belong here. About 65% of our families homeschool. The rest use us alongside traditional or charter schools.

Is this a low-demand environment?

Yes. Enrichment courses have no grades and no traditional homework. However, for-credit courses include assignments and letter grades. Cameras always optional. Challenge by choice. Students are never cold-called, never forced to participate, and never penalized for how they choose to engage. For students with PDA, demand avoidance, or anxiety, this is the difference between a program they resist and one they ask to log into.

How much does it cost?

Semester courses start at $624. Summer camps are $149–$169 per camp. Payment plans, sibling discounts, referral credits, and ESA/charter funding accepted. We're an approved vendor with 10+ state ESA programs.

Will my child actually make friends?

This is the part that surprises parents most. Your child joins a course about something they love and meets 6–8 kids who love it too. Same group all semester (or all week for camps). Parents tell us their children are more connected with this community than with anyone physically around them. 93% of families re-enroll because their kids won't let them stop.

What if it doesn't work?

100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Switch courses, receive a credit, or stop payments. No questions asked. We can offer this because we know what happens when these kids find their people.

What do parents get?

Virtual Coffee & Connect hours every couple of weeks. Regular Expert Talks with leaders like Seth Perler, Debbie Reber, and Dr. Temple Grandin. A Facebook group where families connect and support each other. Progress updates from mentors. And the ability to watch your child's courses anytime (just stay off camera). You're not just enrolling your child. You're joining a village.