My Biggest Worry For My Non-Verbal Son Has Changed

Years ago, I had a dream that my non-verbal son was speaking. Someone in the dream told me, "He's been talking this whole time." I never forgot it.This week, I had another dream about Lucas. Except this time, he wasn't speaking. He was 15, getting himself dressed, walking through a hotel on his own and trying to use a room key. When I woke up, I understood almost immediately what had changed.I'm not worried about Lucas speaking anymore. He communicates. I understand him. What I worry about now is whether he'll have the life skills and independence he needs when I'm no longer here to help him.In this episode, I talk about both dreams, why communication devices and gestures became so important for Lucas, an uncomfortable conversation with someone who believed every non-verbal child could speak, and what it actually looks like to teach independence when doing everything myself would be so much easier.Most of all, I talk about how the things we worry about as parents change as our kids grow. I still want Lucas to be able to do everything in the world. But I've also learned that wanting everything for him and needing him to become someone different are two very different things.It's Here! Get the book – “Hi World, I’m Dad: How Fathers Can Journey to Autism Awareness, Acceptance, and Appreciation” on audio, digital, or print.Follow Us On TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. Also, be sure to read the blog that started it all - Hi Blog! I'm Dad.