My son had a stroke at nine days old. He will NEVER grow up, and Ive been not working ever since.
Hes currently 12, and we try to give him as much knowledge as he can get before he reaches the plateau of his abilities. He is homeschooled, and weve attempted to fill his schedule with interesting and educational things, but it takes a lot of running around to do that.
In all probability, he will never learn to drive a car. He will never be able to support himself. He will always live with us, until we die, and we will take care of him as long as we can. Then...his brother or other family will have to take over.
Add to that the currently stable bum ticker that caused the damned stroke in the first place, and you cant begin to imagine the worry and work it takes to even keep going day after day.
I held some kind of job from the age of 12-31, when I had my first baby. Even then, when the kids went to (Catholic)school, I took a job at the school just to keep an eye on him. Now that hes not at school anymore, I stay home with him and teach him what I can while still keeping house. I can tell you that THIS is the hardest thing Ive ever done, hands down.
Oh, how I wish my Johnny would grow up one day....but he wont.
Regards,