Embracing Chaos

Last week Owen started his college journey. When it became obvious that RealVoices of Philly is not yet ready to fill Owen’s longing for education, we got brave enough to dive in. It helped that this past June at a convention we listened to a panel of typers and spellers from across America and Canada who were doing the same thing. So, I reached out to Harvard Extension and then (more affordably) to Montgomery Community College. I am still amazed that this long-held wish could come true.

As I searched and struggled with the online systems, Owen and I were both kind of anxious. But I hide it better. Owen was freaking out (admit it O), tearing up paper and driving me nuts. What a strange situation people with disrupted movement are in, that their bodies so COMPLETELY betray them. So that even those who love them, and who KNOW the mind behind the madness, can feel confused.  Angry. You want to say, “Act like who you really are!!!” Sometimes you do say it. Which is no help at all. And totally unfair.

It’s like saying “Duh! Don’t be blind! Just open your eyes!!”

It turned out that we were registering at the last minute. I couldn’t work the online registration system at first.

The first class was actually last week. Mom messed up. But Owens professor is amazing, very bright and still very supportive. By now the readings are mostly read first there week, and there is just the discussion board posting to make. And Owen is smiling. A lot.

How did he feel this morning, after a late night working on his first short essay for the group discussion board? “Tired, but happy.”