What to do ?

[wide awake]

DS is 16 and autistic. I noticed after our 9/06 WDW trip how happy he was to go back to his school (SDC). Today was the first day back after the holidays...he was so happy, had a great day according to the notebook sent back and forth, and was absolutely giddy when he got home...sign of an excellent day. He isn't enrolled in our regional center...I took him out years ago because our social worker never came up w/ anything I hadn't found months before, and I didn't like strangers coming to the house and checking out my parenting...nothing to be ashamed of, but really, how dare they ? I'm thinking of enrolling DS back into the regional center, and placing him in the group home affiliated w/ his school. I can't stand the thought of it, but I want him to be happy. I keep thinking if I would be more energetic, more fun, he would like our home better...I try...we went to Hawaii a couple weeks ago...DS and I sat together on the way home, 5.5 hours...I spent the time in our normal interaction, not thinking of how it looked to strangers...while we were landing the woman in front of me turned around and said "you're a great mom"...I guess she'd listened the whole time. Anyone w/ any guidance or thoughts on this ?

 

[Judy from Boise]

Your son is certainly of an age when a transition plan is very necessary. Is there a way to ease into it over the next few years ?
By the time a parent is asking for advice I think they usually know in their heart the right thing to do, and on some level are just seeking validation. You know your Son best and love him the most, if you think it is a good idea it probably is.