What is the end goal of “all of this?”
…All the therapies, the interventions, the specialists?
Is there a point when my children have learned enough skills or made enough progress that they won’t need these services anymore?
Is there a criteria or final goal out there that once met, I could kick back and say, “we did it?”
“We made it.”
What does that look like for us?
Self-sufficiency? Self-advocacy? Self-management?
At what point would I “stop worrying?”
Hmm…
The EASY answer is “never.”
And frankly, that is also my honest answer.
Self-sufficiency is a huge goal for us…
No. Not “huge.”
MOMENTOUS. Miraculous. It would be the heavens parting and angels singing kind of accomplishment.
But it is unclear if Jonah will ever achieve that.
Chances are, Jonah will need some kind of support system for the rest of his life.
But sometimes we will see these developmental bursts from Jonah.
Some days, he’s like a whole different kid. He will try a new food, or speak a new spontaneous appropriate sentence, or acquire a new skill.
What if he had more and more of these HUGE developmental gains?
Like… exponentially each day?
IS there a point when I could tell myself, “okay, I don’t need to worry about Jonah anymore? He’s developed enough.”
He’s “good to go.”
Hmm. What WOULD that look like?
Frankly, it would be nothing short of miraculous.
But Jojo would need to be MORE than just “self-sufficient” for me to stop worrying about his development.
He would ultimately need to show he could not only receive care, but be the one who PROVIDES it.
I think if Jonah demonstrated a capability to not only care for himself, but also was able to provide that same level of care for HIS own child, I think I would stop worrying.
Maybe.
Huh.
I guess that is universally true for ALL parents.
But short of that, I will ALWAYS be supporting my child… and I will need to ensure that support for the duration of HIS lifetime.
I guess the “end goal” to all this is to give my kids the tools they need in order for them to be able to provide the same tools THEIR kids might need in the future.
Because, my God… if EITHER of my kids have kids of their own and are unable to care for them…
😳
Guess who would feel it is HIS responsibility to take on THAT responsibility as well? 🙋♂️
Oy.
I can never die.
#Ausome