Every parent wrestles with trust. We worry about who could possibly hurt our children. Deep in the core of our being we are often terrified and conversely inexplicably hopeful about our children’s futures.
We can be terrified of who to trust our child with and hopeful we can find circumstances, people and environments that are trustworthy. All parents find themselves slave to worry and hope simultaneously.
This dichotomy is amplified for parents of differently-abled children. We know the statistics (Department of Health and Human services report over 68% of disabled children have been abused or bullied) and we have experienced it first hand.
My son has a long-held expression: “we hope see.” The sentiment of “I hope so” and “we will have to wait and see.” This has been a life saving concept implanted in the black and white world of an autistic mind. It’s not a list he makes. It’s not a date fixed on the calendar he references. It’s not a musical note sung by a singer whose name he likes to recall. It’s a concept carved from the stone of life. Carved with tears, frustration and joy from life experiences.