Hearts Full of Love
I know I have shared that Michael will be moving to an intentional community for adults with special needs. It will allow him the structure and support he needs while providing him with many more opportunities for growth and development than we could ever provide at home. We’ll be moving too so that we can be close to him and visit him often.
Recently, we attended a fundraiser for his future community, and I wanted to share a beautiful feeling I had as we sat in the room, surrounded by families like ours and the people who love them. I haven’t felt so at ease with Mikey in a large gathering ever. We were with our people.
There were special needs adults in an environment of total acceptance and joy. Some danced with their families. Some did crafts and played games. They enjoyed dinner with their families and celebrated the fact that their special forever home was being built.
Mikey did a dot-to-dot book calmly at our table and took it all in. He is getting to know his future neighbors and I’m not sure how much he understands. But, I fully understand that if he loves it there, I won’t have to worry about what happens when I cannot care for my buddy. He will be supported and appreciated.
Give Us Some Time
Mikey is not moving in until the end of this school year. It may take a while after that for me to post a Flash Forward Friday from Mikey’s new community. I want to give him time to settle and stay focused on making sure his transition is a success before I post. Just know, as always, we are working hard to make sure he has the best life possible. I know he is ready for a bigger life than Dave and I can provide.
So, with hearts full of love, we look forward to the next chapter for Mikey.
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About the Author
Erica Mauro is a mom to two teenage boys, Will who is neurotypical and Michael with Autism and cognitive delays. She holds a BA in Psychology from Colgate University and a Masters of Psychology in Education from Columbia Teacher’s College. Before staying home with her children, she worked as an elementary school teacher. For five years, she served on the Board of Directors of the Molly Ann Tango Memorial Foundation, a charity dedicated to enriching the lives of children with special needs. In partnership with her husband Dave, she aspires to parent by using daily life as an opportunity for therapeutic intervention, seizing on real experiences as opportunities to build skills and strategies for Michael in a joyful, loving home environment. On the tougher early days, she just tried to get everyone safely to bedtime and start fresh in the morning. *wink* 
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Praying for all of you.
I know that Mikey will do well
With all the love behind him.