I have recently gotten back in the pool (after a year ) thanks to our friend, Dawn, taking great care of Wil after school and honing in on his life skills learning.

While I swam Monday, Dawn’s husbsnd came over to have a guitar jam session with Wil

When you have a dependent child, your schedule revolves around that child’s schedule. It takes a lot to find someone you fully trust, and that matches your schedule, so you and your child both can enjoy needed independence time.

Wil is my buddy, and he is so much fun! I’m thankful he’s not flying from this nest for some time to come. And yet, Wil is almost 19. He deserves someone other than mom all the time to expand his young adult life.

When I mention respite care outside of our disability circle, I receive a blank stare in response. That likely wouldn’t have been in my vocabulary either! But independence doesn’t happen without it when you have a deoendent child.

When you meet someone with a dependent child, know that they most likely love having their child home, but at the same time, both parent and child need time to spread their wings, and that doesn’t happen without an extra set of loving, caring hands.

Our lives always include extras, and that extra includes extra special people with extra special hearts.