My kids don't have autism, although my special ed. teacher daughter is very familiar with it. But this particular post didn't feel like it was about autism, but about family. We are--dang it--old. Our kids are in their 50s, most of their kids grown, but the thing I still tell them is that they need to always be friends with each other, to stay in contact, to have each other's backs, to laugh together. Some things are the same. Thank you for letting us know your family.
You are your husband are such awesome parents! What an amazing family you have raised and nurtured.
It’s hard to let them go, isn’t it? Allowing the birds to fly…
You’ve been preparing.
The one child, the one that needs special observance, that needs to know they belong… you have also been preparing your other children to care for him, and each other.
Children can’t know our fears for them. It would weigh them down. So, just as our own parents managed to let us go, without tying us to their concerns, you do the same.
I also have a son, he is 21, just graduated from SIU w/an aviation degree in three years. This poem, as all of your poems, spoke to me deeply, made me tear up. My son just left to go back to Carbondale even tho he is graduated, but he has a flying/instructing job there, working on precious aviation -building hours. He was here with a group of friends for the holiday weekend. When they drove off Sunday morning, my husband and I both had hurting hearts.
But at the same time, always, I’m thinking and saying everything you are about our almost 24yo autistic daughter. Please don’t forget about her on her bday, on holidays, everyday. Please take care of her. He’s too young to beg him to do that, to ask him in the desperate way I secretly want to ask.
Thank you for writing what is on my heart. We walk similar paths, paper cuts.
You always weave autism into family, because as autism parents, it’s always about autism along with family. It can’t be any other way. It just is….
A beautiful description of dinner with your oldest. How hard to know how much they think about Jack’s care in the future. You really are fairly young parents and should be around for Jack for many more years. I was 32 and 34 when my last two were born, so you are very young. 😄. What a great job you two have done in raising great kids. ❤️
Carrie, what a beautiful dinner with your son. I too, know how it feels to have the kiddos, one by one take flight, my experience is some come back and some do not. But we have raised them to this place, right. I'm still not sure, I know I didn't teach them everything but maybe just enough. If looking from the outside looking in has any recognition at all, you have done and are doing all the things!! Again, you amaze me, as you did all this before Autism was really talked about. Definitely no folder came with Jack's diagnosis. You go momma, be proud!! 💜💜
My kids don't have autism, although my special ed. teacher daughter is very familiar with it. But this particular post didn't feel like it was about autism, but about family. We are--dang it--old. Our kids are in their 50s, most of their kids grown, but the thing I still tell them is that they need to always be friends with each other, to stay in contact, to have each other's backs, to laugh together. Some things are the same. Thank you for letting us know your family.
You are your husband are such awesome parents! What an amazing family you have raised and nurtured.
It’s hard to let them go, isn’t it? Allowing the birds to fly…
You’ve been preparing.
The one child, the one that needs special observance, that needs to know they belong… you have also been preparing your other children to care for him, and each other.
Children can’t know our fears for them. It would weigh them down. So, just as our own parents managed to let us go, without tying us to their concerns, you do the same.
Because, you are great parents!
A job well done!
(But still, we worry…)
I also have a son, he is 21, just graduated from SIU w/an aviation degree in three years. This poem, as all of your poems, spoke to me deeply, made me tear up. My son just left to go back to Carbondale even tho he is graduated, but he has a flying/instructing job there, working on precious aviation -building hours. He was here with a group of friends for the holiday weekend. When they drove off Sunday morning, my husband and I both had hurting hearts.
But at the same time, always, I’m thinking and saying everything you are about our almost 24yo autistic daughter. Please don’t forget about her on her bday, on holidays, everyday. Please take care of her. He’s too young to beg him to do that, to ask him in the desperate way I secretly want to ask.
Thank you for writing what is on my heart. We walk similar paths, paper cuts.
You always weave autism into family, because as autism parents, it’s always about autism along with family. It can’t be any other way. It just is….
A beautiful description of dinner with your oldest. How hard to know how much they think about Jack’s care in the future. You really are fairly young parents and should be around for Jack for many more years. I was 32 and 34 when my last two were born, so you are very young. 😄. What a great job you two have done in raising great kids. ❤️
Carrie, what a beautiful dinner with your son. I too, know how it feels to have the kiddos, one by one take flight, my experience is some come back and some do not. But we have raised them to this place, right. I'm still not sure, I know I didn't teach them everything but maybe just enough. If looking from the outside looking in has any recognition at all, you have done and are doing all the things!! Again, you amaze me, as you did all this before Autism was really talked about. Definitely no folder came with Jack's diagnosis. You go momma, be proud!! 💜💜
Members of my family have this diagnosis, but in my humble opinion, this is a really sad way to treat people who are Absolutely Fabulous.
Kindest regards
Carol Power
Johannesburg South Africa
And the water has just gone off again in my so called “good area” in Johannesburg in South Africa.
It beggars belief.