Do any other moms out there have children in group homes or nursing facilities?

I have a child, 13, who has just entered a group home that has nursing care. He has a poorly controlled seizure disorder and is profoundly mentally affected. He's almost as big as I am (I'm 5'8") and doesn't sleep the night. I have to find a job and support myself after five years away from the workplace, and I can't really see how to do that plus handle his care.

My other children and I see him at least 5 days per week and his dad takes him home with him (we are divorced) two nights per week. He is in an immaculately clean home with caring people, and is close enough to visit as often as I like, but I am grieving pretty hard over this.

Have any other moms gone through this grieving when your kid moves out? I'd love to hear your story, if you have one, even if your child was older when he moved.

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Hi there ~ I am the single parent to two boys on the autism spectrum, ages 11 and almost 10. We live in Los Angeles.

Several years ago I was a member of a list serve that disbanded, but one of the members wrote this article for the Exceptional parent magazine in 2002 and it is entitled,

Gina and the Group Home - it shares the experience of placing a child in a group home.

http://www.eparent.com/lifeplanning/gina_grouphome.htm

Good luck

[quote] Several years ago I was a member of a list serve that disbanded, but one of the members wrote this article for the Exceptional parent magazine in 2002 and it is entitled,

Gina and the Group Home - it shares the experience of placing a child in a group home.

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