Perfectly abnormal normalcy

Two weeks ago Liberty started college. My baby, who was struck by a horrible illness years ago, was starting college. She was not going to be in the same campus and within very safe bounds. 

Now, now after the tons of hoops, tests, meetings, and paperwork- she is going. She is two weeks into her first semester of college. She is all over everywhere as she has twelve full hours plus some lab time.  She couldn't do this without Mariah and Libby's Aunt Jennifer.   So, very grateful. 

Jennifer and Libby chilling in the Art Museum. 

My baby is out there. She has pictures and stuff posted about her that I have no idea of.   She has a desire to skip her math class and nap.   She hates the extra long classes.  She wants a phone and a van to drive her in.  SHE wants to join Match.com. She wants to join clubs and stuff. She sees boys she likes and tells them.  She is surrounded by people who I don't know and who don't realize how important and precious she is to all of us!  

Here you see Mariah pushing Liberty away and toward both of their futures. Both sides of my heart going forward toward their dreams. It's a fuzzy picture, may have been crying. 

This morning it hit me while we worked on HER homework on a Saturday morning- this is normal. Liberty is in amazing hands, but she is my baby. My baby is off to college without my safe parameters. She isn't at Caprock where I can check in: physically, medically, and emotionally all day.  That's what happens when they become a legal adult and choose college.   My umbilical is double wound and stretched.

    We planned and prepared for everything: pill schedules, easily accessible potty places and times, hand braces, dealing with leg braces, feeding places and schedules, lab times, homework times, and even individual schedules for all of us around her.  I didn't plan for extra long classes and keeping Liberty's learning engagement that long. 

Libby is taking math, reading, and two art classes. There are study sessions in the computer lab as well.   She is learning to complain about things that really do hurt, her leg braces, and do it so loudly so that she can get out of class. This is also a normal. She's enjoying herself.

The top row is the model form, the bottom row is Liberty's. 

This one is cone and ball with shading.  Shading is hard because with her new art brace she has to change the angle of her hand, but she's doing it!

Three hours on homework this morning, guess I'll have to consider adding that to our routine.   So normal. And beautiful and blessed. 

*DARS services can begin, testing and vocational training, at the age of 18.  Waiting until your child with a disability is 18 May be too late. 

http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/rsa/wioa-reauthorization.html  these workforce programs can begin at 14. Visually impaired students can begin receiving services at 14 years old. 

*Section 504 recipients and those with physical and intellectual disabilities can receive accommodations in post secondary educable environments. 

*Modifications, changing the course material is not allowed in most campuses. Accommodating the material and environment to be more conducive for that students learning is. 

*It's important to start asking about your options before your child graduates.  

Be blessed.