Guardianship….getting closer

Tanner had an appointment with his eye doctor today.  These visits come once a year, so when we arrived today, I had a few pages to fill out and sign.  These pages served as a little reminder to me of what is in our future.  As I wrote my name on the line that says parent/guardian, it occurred to me that the next time we would come to this particular office, I would have to bring the guardianship papers with me.  Papers that soon, I will have to always have with me to give me the right to do all the things I have been doing since Tanner was born.  I’ve covered this in a previous blog.  I TOTALLY understand the necessity to become Tanner’s legal guardian when he becomes 18.  But the everyday impact of this is so strange.

Tanner will be 18 at the end of February.  I think back to Adam’s 18th birthday……  We had a house full of kids over to watch the Cowboy game.  They were just embarking on their senior year and the air was full of excitement.  Not about the Cowboys (ha), but about what was to come for all of them.  It was football season and there were games and pep rallies to think about.  Not to mention all of the senior fun…..parties, prom, graduation.   Which college would they all choose?

With Tanner, I have none of that anticipation.  Instead, I’m thinking of guardianship, applying for SSI, getting Tanner an ID card, finding a new dentist for him and getting his special needs trust funded and working for his future. I’m starting to really think about what he will do as an adult.  What kind of business could I start that would include him?  What type of job will he do?  Will he live with us forever?  How will I find a group home good enough for him?  How am I going to carry these papers with me all the time?

But I am getting ahead of myself……we have a couple of more steps to complete the guardianship process. It will be here before I know it.  So I need to just get back to “one day at a time”.  It will all get worked out.

I just hate those little reminders.