If Only I could…Oh, If Only

I wish I could protect him forever

Photo by Author: Scrapbook page of author and son.

I’ve been going through old scrapbooks I’ve done as we’ve been continuing to bring boxes in from the garage from our move this past summer. We had such a hot and wet summer and the garage is detached from the house so it’s not temperature controlled. Because of that, certain things started to mold so we’ve been moving things into the house.

I found some pages that I created of Zach when he was a wee one.

This picture was taken back in 2007. Zach was 8 years old. He loved to be held tightly, which is one of the reasons he loves to be curled up tight in his blankets. He said it makes him feel comfy and safe. Some autistics love to have that deep pressure applied because it helps to relieve stress and anxiety. Zach is one of those people.

A former friend had come to stay with us and brought her professional photography equipment and followed the kids and I and my ex husband out in the yard for a bit and took candid shots. This was one of them.

I think that we always want to protect our kids forever, whether they’re neurodivergent or neurotypical. Even though Zach will be 24 next month, I still have the maternal instinct to protect both my kids at all costs. Zach lives with us and our daughter has been out on her own for a couple years but…