I interviewed a woman who has a child with special needs. The child is now in kindergarten. The mother reported having a normal pregnancy without complications. This was the second child for the mother, who had another son who was five years old at the time. The mother revealed that during her pregnancy she was in the process of separating from the baby's father and that this caused her a moderate level of stress. At the time of the pregnancy, the mother worked full time as a waitress in a local restaurant. The mother reported that her job required her to stand for long periods of time. She was able to work until about a week before her son was born. The mother reports that the baby was born about two weeks early, but the labor was easy and the baby was born healthy. The mother described the child as a restless child who had trouble sleeping and woke up several times during the night. The mother also reports that the child was a picky eater and had difficulty breastfeeding her daughter throughout infancy and needed to switch her daughter to soy-based formula. Overall, the mother reported that her daughter was a happy child who smiled often. The mother reported that her son was alert and responded positively to family members who visited and enjoyed playing with his toys. Regarding development, the mother reported that her daughter seemed to be developing more slowly than her first child, who had reached certain milestones earlier. The mother reports remembering that her daughter stuttered, but says she didn't say her first word until much later than her. first child. She said this was a concern for her and that she discussed it with her pediatrician who saw no cause for alarm at the time. When t...... half of the document ......working collaboratively with families means being patient and understanding. Don't assume that their reluctance is because they don't want to help their child. I would also say that it is important for them to keep communication open and make an effort to include parents. “Take the initiative to establish an equal relationship. Don't be discouraged by limited initial success. (Oslens & Fuller 2012, p 128.) References:o http://www.corestandards.org/ELA-Literacy/SL/K• Gerald Mahoney, Ann Kaiser, Luigi Girolametto, James MacDonald, Cordelia Robinson, Philip Safford, and Donna SpikerParent Education in Early Intervention: A Call for Renewing Topics of Interest in Early Childhood Special Education Fall 1999 19: 131-140,• Olsen, Glenn W., and Mary Lou Fuller. Home-school relationships: teachers and parents work together. 4th ed. Boston: Pearson, 2012. Print.