This article is the story of how Traci Penland, the mother of three children, two of whom are deaf, stopped thinking of "the school"--the combined presence of teachers, professionals, support staff, deaf education specialists, audiologists, and administrators--as her enemy in her pursuit to help her daughter in her educational journey. A training given by the Georgia chapter of Hands & Voices, a parent-driven, nonprofit organization dedicated to providing support to families irrespective of the family's communication choice with their child, provided the map Penland needed to feel knowledgeable enough to let her guard down in her involvement with school officials. The article includes tips for advocacy for parents.