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Dear Justin,<\/p>\n
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My dear boy, you\u2019ve recently rounded the corner into adulthood, which is a still a difficult concept for me to grasp. It was just yesterday that I held you tightly as we danced around to your favorite tunes in your nursery in our little house in northern VA, oblivious to the world. To say there have been ups and downs in your childhood would be the understatement of the century, but I feel in my soul there has been mostly good there. You have grown into a loving and predominantly happy adult, and for that I am eternally grateful.<\/p>\n
There were months, no years, I thought we\u2019d never get to this place.<\/p>\n
Eighteen is a real reckoning, just like twenty-one will be years from now. Your dad and I are in the process of acquiring guardianship over you so we can make important decisions on your behalf, and we are wading through the morass of Social Security, the DDD, and Medicaid to make sure you receive all the benefits you are entitled to. Several years from now we will be choosing a day program for you, an agency and a coordinator, and eventually a residential placement where you will live not too far from us.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s this latter decision that gets me every time.<\/p>\n
You see my son, I know in my heart that someday you will live apart from us, that this is a necessary and even a good thing. Myself and a few of my friends are trying very hard to secure a safe place for you, one where you will have good caregivers and maybe the opportunity to work, and hopefully lots of fun. I know your dad and I have to place you there because try though I might I won\u2019t live forever, and I certainly don\u2019t want our demise to be what precipitates a drastic change in residence for you. No, I\u2019d \u00a0see you settled earlier rather than later, have the kinks of placement worked out, make sure you\u2019re thriving before I depart this world.<\/p>\n
One thing before I go however my son- I just desperately wish you could tell me how you feel about all of this.<\/p>\n
You see, when I contemplate your future away from your family there is both a feeling of peace and of guilt that co-exist. I don\u2019t know if you\u2019d like to live out your burgeoning adulthood with us, or if you want more independence without us. I can ask you many questions and get the \u201cyes or no nod,\u201d but not this question. This is too complex a topic to be able to rely on that subtle shift of your head, and I know I\u2019ll never know the answer. To be honest, the hardest part of placing you for me is the worry you won\u2019t understand why, that you won\u2019t comprehend that your dad and I won\u2019t be here forever.<\/p>\n
It hurts my heart to think you won\u2019t understand.<\/p>\n
And yet, I have to remind myself of how many things you\u2019ve adapted to brilliantly over the years. New teachers, and a new school building. Losing seeing your favorite people for over a year. Not being able to frequent your favorite haunts.<\/p>\n
This past year there has been a ton of change for you, and you have conquered it all.<\/p>\n
So in the end I know we simply have to continue to move forward. I know I have to do my best to create a continuation of the good life you\u2019ve had at home and at your school, continue to find things that delight and challenge you in the years to come.<\/p>\n
I need to let you go, just a little.<\/p>\n
I have to hope the choices I make for you are those you\u2019d want too.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ll always wish I knew for sure.<\/p>\n
I love you.<\/p>\n
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For more on my family visit my blog at autismmommytherapist.wordpress.com<\/em><\/p>\n Follow me on Facebook at Autism Mommy-Therapist<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n