transition to residential care

One week from tomorrow David will be in the residential facility.

I am loathe to admit that part of me is excited about him going.  He can get more help there than what we can give him at home.

On the other hand, I am sad.  This is just the next level of care.  But then there is the part of me that berates my ability as a dad. I should have been able to fix him.

I know, it isn’t realistic to think that I can fix his brain.

And then, I look at the rest of the family.  David has been in the safe bed since Monday.  He has done well for the mot part there, and wants to come home.  However, I believe that it is him identifying what needs to be done to achieve a goal, and then doing what he needed to do to get there.   The other kids are spending more time out in the main part of the house rather than locked away behind closed doors.

Do you have any idea how nice it is to not need a key to open a fridge? or cupboard? I mean seriously.  To not need to carry keys around just to get a bowl of cereal, or a glass of milk is such a cool thing.

To not have to fight with a child to get them to return an item that doesn’t belong to them is nice as well.  Actually, fight isn’t the best word, as we catch him, and then there follows a four to six hour long tantrum.

Related articles

• Safe Bed update (whynotfathers.com)
• Struggling as a father of children with special needs (whynotfathers.com)
• Wyoming follows movement to treat at-risk juveniles close to home (billingsgazette.com)