I CREATED A JOYFUL 'NEW NORMAL' AS MY SON'S CAREGIVER

As the mother and caretaker of a 24-year-old son with autism, Anne Couldridge feels a tug on her heart as she watches her friends' adult kids fly the nest to pursue their dreams. But Anne's unique life has taught her there are so many beautiful moments worth celebrating

Whether catching up with a friend in the grocery store or talking to a family member offering their support, Anne Couldridge, who is a full-time caregiver for her 24-year-old autistic son, Connor, frequently hears, "I don't know how you do it." She always smiles and replies in the same manner: "I don't know any other way."

"Of course, I recognize our family's dynamic is different from most," Anne says. "By the time most kids are Connor's age, they're typically out on their own pursuing their careers and starting families of their own, leaving their parents struggling to adjust to being empty nesters. But because of Connor's developmental disabilities, in many ways, my husband and I still have a young adolescent. We can't leave him home alone, let alone dream of helping him move into his own home.

"When Connor was young, he went to school full-time and to various therapies. Then, when he graduated in 2021, our lives took a turn. For decades, the adult system for developmental disability services has been chronically underfunded and understaffed, and while I had full knowledge that this cliff was coming, it was still a jolt to our family when we reached it.