Willie trumps All: Raising A Son With Special Needs

Our sweet Willie is in trouble. He crossed that invisible line. He has now harmed another individual. He has a new history: one marred with violence. Sure, there was no real harm done. No hospitalizations. No charges pressed. But it is a scary new world we have entered in with him. One with real possibilities of very dire scenarios one only has nightmares about. And of course it doesn't matter that the other individual he pushed was pressing his buttons, even bullying him.  And it doesn't even count that Willie has Neurological Disabilities. The shove, the charge, the head-butt, the offense, that is all that really matters now.

My friend explained it perfectly when she said: Things are different now. Much more serious. For although there is a low probability of such violence against others in the future, the consequences are quite high.

So our life comes to a halt. Everything else is pushed aside. The Early Decision College Application due tomorrow. The sick 13 year old who stayed home from school today. The relative's Hip Replacement Surgery. The jobs. The regular "everydayness" that is oh so sweet. Except when it is smashed to bits with this new living nightmare.

Willie has trumped us all, as he has done for the past 24 years. And unfortunately, as he celebrates his Birthday today, he even trumps himself.