Tag Archives: tom

Not quite snowbound

mia_mcdavid and I were able to shovel out enough of the driveway yesterday morning to get our (smallish) cars out. Our local streets had already been plowed, so we could get around somewhat. We followed what has become our usual Sunday pattern: Pick up Tom at his group home, take him to church with us, then to our house for lunch. After that we relaxed at our place for a while, then took him home.

This worked OK, but the side streets around Tom’s home in Minneapolis had not been nearly as well plowed as those in Roseville, which added considerably to the driving stress there. After taking Tom back I needed a nap.

Mia went out to visit some friends in St. Paul. The side streets there were no better than those in Minneapolis. She made a very nice curried chicken dish for dinner, but we were both quite tired and were asleep before 10. Summary: We coped, but it was hard work.

Ballastexistenz

Ballastexistenz is a blog by an autistic person. The title is explained in her about page. I found this via Monastic Musings, the author of which wrote

“I know that she has contributed to my understanding of what it means to be human in a way that no non-disabled person could.”

That is what being one of Tom’s parents has forced down my throat given me: A far greater understanding of what it is to be human, that I could not achieve otherwise. The experience has been, and still is, incredibly painful, but it has made me a better person, and for that I am grateful.