I still need help sometimes to do a lot of things on my own. I will probably do it all by myself when I am ready living on my own and do the things that I learn like cleaning and personal care too but I need My Mom and My Dad to show me to do that and know all about it all and I will remember the things I need when I do it by myself. But it takes a long time and sometimes I forget and need My Mom to help to remind to me what to do.
My Mom and my sister Megan too help me to do the Laundry and how to sort by colors in seperate in piles and wash the clothes too and they also help with me to sort the socks and undies too and to fold them and to put the laundry away too.
I have a hard time by using with the towels and I need help with that and not to use alot of towels and reused the same towels sometimes when I use them and make sure not to use too many towels too.
My Mom and My Dad help me when I wear my glasses to make sure I wear them when I need to wear them and also to try to use them. My Mom and My Dad let me know that try not to play with my glasses and not to break them. And They help me not to be twitch and sneeze with my glasses. I doing okay but it is hard for me.
My Mom and Dad help me and let me know to not to write on myself and my hands and my fingers too and also on the furnture too. They help me and it is getting alot better. And I try not to do that for when I live by myself on my own living in an apartment Someday.
I have alot of help out with my parents Mom and Dad when I go through Headaches and with dizzy, lightheaded, and head spinning too, and also to help which medicine I need to take to go through the Headaches to make it go away. When the weather and the seasonings change and the pollution. It is no fun to get headaches all the time and I have a hard time when I sleep and when I wake up I get headaches too and the things to get the Headaches away is drink water and maybe sometimes drink caffeine too. And a lot of water too. And enough sleep. This is a part of independence to deal with that on my own by myself to handle it when it happens but sometimes when the time comes you do need help too when it is really bad.
Reading and reflecting upon my sister’s words is both eye opening and overwhelming. I step back and could not be more proud of how much effort she puts into taking steps towards becoming independent. My perspective turns upside down with each paragraph she writes as I recognize the amount of work she has put in over the years to get to where she is today. Things that I take for granted… how many towels to use when I shower, for example… these are things that Leah has had to learn and remind herself each day. I’m sitting here trying to imagine a day in Leah’s brain, and I am, again, overwhelmed, and exhausted. The immediate feelings that then follow are admiration and awe. She absolutely blows me away with her abilities.
Now, we all battle obstacles daily. They can be small, they will be big. Whether we are choosing which restaurant to go to for dinner, or trying to decide if we will accept a job offer – uprooting our lives and moving to another place…we are constantly faced with decisions.
When reflecting on Leah’s writings on becoming independent, I am shown how much effort is put into this goal. Every moment is a huge decision for her, and she bravely faces them with the belief that she will succeed (knowing that if she struggles, our parents will be there… this is where the proper support is essential for individuals with special needs).
It also shows me that it is okay to accept help when we need it, that we don’t have to do this alone, and that is okay. The key is finding the right balance between recognizing when help is truly needed and accepting it, and believing in yourself enough to acknowledge when you can accomplish something independently. This balance is something that my parents continue to work towards with Leah.
My parents. As much as I am in awe of Leah and all that she can do after reading her post, I am equally in awe of them. The patience that they have employed daily, for 33 years, is absolutely inspiring. Because of their patience, determination, and hope in raising Leah, she continues to achieve levels of independence beyond expectations.
That said, raising Leah is never going to be easy for my parents. It is hours upon hours of conversation and support. It is leaving written reminder notes around the house. It is deep breaths. Patience. It is all part of raising a child with special needs. It is important and selfless and beautiful. It is the incredibly inspirational, independent woman that Leah continues to become. One of my favorite sayings encompasses this, “it won’t be easy, but it will be worth it.”
Here’s to turning our minds Upside Down.
