5. He smears.
As awful as this is to talk about, it is real for so many families. Left alone for less than a minute, and so much damage is done. No one benefits from the clear up, and the less it happens, the better for everyone.
6. He eats everything.
Bedding is a current favorite but we have had clothing, toys, jigsaws, paper, pencils, lego, teddies and money all eaten regularly. The danger of that is very obvious and unless we wish to have a season ticket to the local hospital, he MUST be watched.
7. He destroys.
He is the master of opportunity. Sensory seeking, no concept of danger, little awareness of cause and reaction and no understanding of empathy mean he has fed his sisters tropical fish milk, talcum powder, full tubs of fish food and several Thomas tank engine trains. He has thrown and broken expensive technology like iPads and cameras, he has blocked the toilet and poured all manner of things into the bathtub. While he may have no understanding of his actions, we do, and it is vital this behavior is prevented as much as possible. The only way to ensure that happens is to be always vigilant.
8. He has seizures.
Medically, the consequences of leaving him unattended could be fatal. He has had seizures at the top of flights of stairs, outside and during the night. He could choke on his own vomit, badly injure himself or knock himself out. He must be watched.
9. He is vulnerable.
While he may be living in his own ‘bubble,’ sadly he is at high risk for bullying and abuse or wandering off. As his mother I have to protect him. That means having to be with him. It is hard to trust when he has no communication to tell me anything.
People tell me I need to relax and that he needs to learn independence. What they don’t understand is that he never will be independent. The level of care he has now is what is likely to have to be in place throughout his adult life. It really is the only way to keep him safe and to keep others safe too.
I am tired. I cry. My life is severely restricted by the needs of another person. If I want my son to stay alive and have any quality of life, I have no choice but to never leave him alone.
What’s it like to parent a child who can never be left alone?
Lonely.
**This article originally appeared on Faith Mummy.