16/06/2026
You may have seen that I shared Will had his very first friend sleepover last week.
You’ve been asking for updates, so I wanted to say… it was a success. 🙌
It started with big smiles from both boys at school pick-up, and the happiness, chatter and excitement continued right through until they said their goodbyes the next day.
Bananas in Pyjamas was on repeat, teacher/student role-playing games, Bluey episodes with lollies and snacks, chats about their old primary schools, their classmates, kind teachers… and, of course, more Bananas in Pyjamas. 😉
As parents, we always hope these “firsts” are filled with all the positive energy we pour into them. But the truth is, they often take so much more than people see. They take planning, preparation, love, care and attention. Sometimes it’s not as simple as saying, “Let’s have a friend stay over.” If I’m honest, I wasn’t always sure when or even if we’d get to this point. And I think that’s okay to say.
As a family, we’ve accomplished so many things and watched Will exceed expectations in so many ways. We never push him into doing things he doesn’t want to do, and we’re so far from worrying about milestones or what other people think he “should” be doing, but making friends and feeling comfortable with his peers has never come easily for him.
So finding his person… finding someone he feels safe with, someone he can simply be himself around… where there are no preconceived ideas or expectations… that means everything.
I think I’m more aware than ever just how precious that is, and how much this meant to him.
So when, months ago, Will decided he wanted his friend to stay over, you can bet I did everything I could to help make it happen and make it feel as comfortable and safe as possible for him and his mate.
Success can mean so many different things to different people, and I know that for many kids, a sleepover with a friend might not seem like a big deal. But for us, it was huge.
It was Will’s moment. It was his friend’s moment. And it was a beautiful reminder that meeting someone where they’re at… giving them the time, space and opportunity to do things when they’re ready… is what it’s all about.
I’ll remember that sleepover forever. Not because of how much I enjoyed it, but because I know how much it meant to Will.
And maybe that’s the reminder today… that some of the moments we celebrate most won’t make sense to everyone else. They won’t always look extraordinary from the outside.
But when you know the journey it took to get there, they become everything.
So here’s to celebrating every win, every first, every tiny step and every giant leap. They’re all built on love, patience, dedication and never giving up on the moments that matter most.
And if you know someone who’s navigating their own “firsts” right now…. the ones that take courage, patience and a whole lot of love - feel free to send this their way.
Sometimes we all need a little reminder that there’s no timeline, no race, and that every step forward is worth celebrating. 🤍
