Autism Concern: When The Parents Are Gone

Here's to life!

What will happen to my kids when I'm dead and gone?  That's a question every parent with a special needs kid asks.  It's a legitimate question.

I see how people have treated my kids--both bad and good.  I have seen and heard the teasing, the rolling eyes, the ignoring, the avoiding, the comments in relation to my boys with autism.  I have seen the pain in my boys' eyes caused by others.  The flip side is the support, the protection, the friendships offered and given to my boys.  I have seen my boys' joy and laughter.  It fills their entire beings.

As a mother, I doubt anyone else will ever love and understand my boys as well as I do.  I hope one day to be proven wrong.  Nevertheless, I see reality and cringe. 

This past year Mike and I have started to address the reality of our mortality.  We have gotten needed documents in order.  We have named who will "parent" should we die sooner than expected.  We've even made burial plans.  Not fun topics, but necessary.  Of course, our focus is still life--living the best life we can!

I'm glad the "dead stuff" is mostly done.  This last week, I met "my future".  I never anticipated hearing "go see a specialist" and "surgery Monday".  Yet, I did.  I am not worried about me.  My kids?  Well, that just takes me back to the beginning.  What will happen to my kids when I'm dead and gone?