Yesterday my son left to go to a residential therapeutic school. He will stay there for a year or two while he learns coping skills and they set him up for a successful future. While the experts and my family agreed it was the best thing for him right now, I still spent the day crying and grieving for him. After a couple of months, he will occasionally be allowed home for visits, but contact is still extremely limited and he is a plane ride away now.
He’s been very brave and has kept a stiff upper lip about the whole process, which I know must be very difficult and scary for him. Again, he will be away from home for an extended period of time and I don’t doubt he’ll be very homesick again.
I’m processing my grief at what feels like losing him by knitting and crocheting comforts and working on other things for the charity (like this post). Knowing that I’m doing something that will help another child like my son, even a little bit, soothes my soul. I hope it does the same for you.
Thank you to everyone who has been supporting me through this journey.