The Washington, DC area is full of amazing moms. There are working moms, stay-at-home moms, single moms, moms of multiples, foster moms, adoptive moms, etc. We want to highlight some of those moms like Soncee Jason! Each month we will feature one special mom as the Mom of the Month. Know a fellow amazing local mom here? Nominate them here!
Meet our January Mom of the Month: Soncee Jason
Soncee Jason born in Springfield, MO raised in Kennesaw, GA, is the wife of recently retired, navy veteran Kermis, mother to 2 sons, Mikkel (16) and Urijah (10) and for the past six months has been guardian to her niece (9) and Nephew (11). With her husband being active duty and having to move every 3-4 years, readily adapting to new people, places and things had become second nature. Now, being on the other side of her longest deployment away from her husband for a year and husband being a civilian for the first time exploring his new found freedom, temporarily being guardian to her niece and nephew, she understands that balance is a must.
Here is our Q&A with Soncee Jason
1. Tell us how you navigate, plan, and transition as a Navy Wife/Mother. What is your best approach to handling change through moves and transitions?
In the beginning, finding a Walmart, apartment/house, good schools, a church, the gym, and friends were a must. Being located long distance from family, my friends became the family I got to hand pick. I had to find my village of people who shared similar experiences. Creating a foundation of understanding and context that needs no explanation. Friends walked alongside us and helped me navigate through my husband’s deployments. They provided the relational support of having someone to talk to and doing life with.
Perspective
After surviving our first ever pandemic, I do not take for granted being afforded the opportunity to conduct life as previously scheduled. I revel in the simplest things of life. My perspective being completely radicalized of not “have to” but “get to” and then doing it, is enjoying everyday life.
Silence
I am sure this is why at three past that midnight hour I’m flooded with epiphanies, clarity, ideas and the more because silence has proceeded it. Not being bombarded with the day, the voices, the actions that need be done while attending to the non-verbal cues given by body language, tone and stares. I have began to practice breathing and silencing everything. Which allows me to be present.
2. When your kids are all grown up, what traits of yours do you hope your kids will remember you for?
There are a lot of values and principles that I hope my kids will remember. One is that their worth to me is more than I can sometimes put into words. I want them to remember that I did my best to provide unconditional personalized love to each of them. To the point of letting go of parts of me that were permissible but not beneficial to the mother I wanted to be for them. Always evolving to be better. To error is human but wisdom is to learn from it. How I was their biggest cheerleader that taught them through living life. Also, how I stewarded them and that they have to put the work in for the things they want to see manifested in their lives. It will require sacrifice but the end game makes it all worth while. Lastly, to simply enjoy your present moment and relish in who you get to share those moments with.
3. What resources have proved to be the most helpful to you as a mom with a special needs child?
We had extended to private ABA, Speech, and Occupational Therapist. Fortunately, I was blessed that Urijah’s Developmental Pediatrician had begun a “mom 2 mom” group for mothers of special needs children. The group was life altering and much more than a “group.’ It connected us not just as parents but as human beings. With my husband being on various deployments, there were times I simply gained a shoulder to cry on and people to walk beside me through this journey. Being a parent of a special needs child can be very isolating, but having that ever present Help, I’ve learned to be a fighter and advocate. Taking advantage of every necessary opportunity has been my goal.
We were also a part of a 9-week in-patient feeding clinic at Kennedy Krieger Institute when Urijah was in kindergarten. Living in Howard County has granted us the opportunity of exposure to the Special Olympics, autism groups, and the Special Education Citizens Advisory Committee (SECAC). Additionally, for active-duty military families; the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP), their Echo military care program provided necessities immediately as well as 40 hours of respite care per month for much needed breaks and time away to refresh. Being a parent of a special needs child can be very isolating but WE ARE HERE. I am not the first nor the last person whose child was or will be diagnosed with Autism and is non-verbal. And how awesome of a person are you as a parent that’s been entrusted to love and care for this precious life. YOU ARE AWESOME! YOU GOT THIS!
Do you know an amazing mom? Nominate a mom of the month here!
