A Parent's Dream

Last year as I was listening to a very long legislative hearing for work. I heard a parent of a young man with disabilities testify to the legislature that he worked hard for his son to have a good life, living in a house with other young men and he cried as he said that he was never so happy when his son told him he was ready to go home on a weekend visit.  For parents of adults with disabilities our dream is for our children to live in a place they can call their home and that place is not their parents home.  His fear was that what he had worked with his son for so long to live in a place where he calls home may change. That parent wanted to make sure the place where his son calls home would remain the same after changes in Medicaid.  I was thinking as he was testifying, that his dream for his son is like my dream for Brandon.  I want Brandon to have a home he can live in for the rest of his life and feel like his house is his home. For the last few years I have referred to my house as "the house in Dripping Springs" and his condo as "his home", so he can start thinking about his own home and what he wants from his own home.  But Brandon still wanted to come "home" to Dripping Springs even with my not so subtle hints.

About 2 months ago Brandon started living with his new roommate.  His name is Nathan.  Nathan attended A&M and has learned to work with people with disabilities.  His dream is to one day run a group home.  His personality is as sweet as Brandon, he is so eager to help and in 2 months he really has become part of the family.  The first day Brandon was going to stay with Nathan all night, he called me about every 30 minutes using Facetime asking me to come get him.  I came and had dinner with the guys and Nathan in his sweet manner starting talking to Brandon and asking him about the Beatles.  The next day only a few calls and the third day no calls.  This week (2 months later) I went over for dinner.  I needed to go to the grocery store.  We made a list of items needed at the guys house, and I asked Brandon if he wanted to come.  He said no.  I asked him if he wanted me to check on him on the video camera when he was about to go to sleep and he said no.  This was while Brandon and Nathan were sitting around their dinner table eating Pizza they had fixed.  They both looked very happy and comfortable with one another.  I still have my dream, like the father who testified above.  But, for now a little rejection feels pretty good.

Nathan and Brandon

I also have been thinking about what all young adults want when they move out from their parents, start jobs, begin to build their own lives.  What really makes a full life is having friends.  But this can be a major challenge for adults with disabilities.  Sometimes they become isolated and frustrated as a result.  So I decided to start the Dripping Springs Friendship Club.  I started a Facebook Page and invited anyone in the community to join.  The group is just starting to catch on.  We have had some great events, the highlight was Art day.  The group gets together each Friday for some activity, lunch and friendship.  So far it has been great.  Many more ideas to build on, but for now we are just getting the group out to the community, setting events each week and communicating to those participating. I have been so lucky to have people volunteer time, their services and space.  I am not sure where this will go from here but having friends is worth the effort.  More to come.

 Dripping Springs Friendship Club out for lunch

Art Day

All for now and all is good.  

Leah