re: #74 HappyWarrior

(((hugs))) I know what you mean. My son doesn’t think of himself as disabled either and we have tried really hard to guide him into things outside of disability related things. But, we’ve also taken advantage of job training programs because of the high unemployment rate of people on the spectrum. Now that he’s working part time and out of these programs, it’s time to move forward into better paying jobs or education, but he is reluctant to try. Years of bullying in school have done a lot of damage that may take a long, long time to undo. He will be 22 soon, I worry a lot about what his future holds.

One thing that breaks my heart is that my son has given up on having a relationship, getting married, being a dad someday. He doesn’t feel lovable. Much of this is honestly related to him still living at home and still learning to drive and getting his own car. I think with independence will come relationships, but he gets in his own way sometimes. He has made friends, guys he hangs out with, goes to concerts with, talks music with, etc. His own “tribe” so to speak.

I’d recommend this book to you, I think you’d find it interesting, but do be warned, it doesn’t sugar coat anything.