Parent discussed that it was difficult to decide which aspect was more challenging as “the challenging aspect” changed depending on the age of the child. This is an important aspect for all special needs educators to remember when establishing and fostering relationships with families of students with special needs. As the textbook states, “Each family is a unique unit that changes as it goes through the stages and transitions of the family life cycle” (Martha E. Snell, 2011, p. 60). The textbook goes on to explain that special education professionals must be aware of life cycle stages and transitions. “Two dimensions of the family life cycle that are important for educators to understand include (a) life cycle stages and (b) life cycle transitions” (Martha E. Snell, 2011, p..