Tuesday, 01 December 2009

• Autism & Adulthood: Taking Flight

  What if?

  What if our children grew up as fast as wild animals?

  I wondered this today as I looked up from my laptop and spotted out in the corner of my yard five healthy teen deer. Every year I watch these beautiful beasts morph from Bambis awkwardly trailing after their sturdy mothers and the rest of her clan. I watch the turkeys, too, as they grow from large little birds into skinny feathered teens and, interestingly, just in time for Thanksgiving, massive gawky creatures who strut their way, necks leading, through my backyard. And, no, I wouldn't dream of shooting one. But, their numbers are plentiful on the nearby Natchez Trace Parkway, which was traveled frequently by my wuzband in the last years of our marriage as he commuted to and from northern Alabama and our home here. He hit one once. Accidentally, of course. 
  

  
  

  He said it was akin to driving over a bowling ball.

  It's a good thing our human young take a couple of decades to reach physical maturity, at least, and not the span of one year where life is perilous due to humans driving large metal machines and wielding weapons of destruction. Yes. I won't go there that the same can happen to our mortal ones. I'm just glad I have my kid around a lot longer than these mama turkeys and deer who grace my yard.

  Still, someday, like the mama birds ruling the nest, I will fling my babe into the air...after much, much preparation. After a longer than usual stay in said nest. After insuring the ground is heavily padded and fortified with supports. And, I know that for my babe, I will always need to spread my wings for her shelter. That flying solo will look quite different for her than the other mama's babies. And that is okay. I have made my Peace. Long ago.

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