Get A Job

~~ Clearly Muddled Blog ~~

Get a job, Sha, na, na, na, sha, na, na, na, na! The Silhouettes sang that song all the way to number one in 1958, and today it’s music to my ears. Autism may have slowed the progress, but Josh is ready to work, and seems to be looking forward to making his own money and paying his own bills. Okay, he didn’t say that second part, but a girl can dream!

I’ve learned a lot of things the past few years, one of which is that college is not the only route to success, even for a Brainiac like Josh. I took for granted that he would get an education because he’s brilliant, and it made sense to me that brilliants go to college, and then support their mother the way she’d like to become accustomed! I’m sort of kidding, but I really did think that he would best be served by higher education. I was wrong.

Josh explained to me that college seemed overwhelming and confining and dictating. He never felt that he could really express himself in a way that truly reflected who he is. And because of that, it would lead to him shutting down. I get it…that’s exactly how I feel every time I think about working in a cubicle! Some amazing and impressive people can do it and are successful and happy. I think. I don’t know anybody that works in a cubicle…that’s how successful I’ve been at living a cubicle free life.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve understood that an education level, the amount of money in a piggy bank, or a job title, are all just descriptors, and don’t define a person. I wasn’t trying to force Josh to do something he didn’t want to do, I was trying to help him to be independent in life, as best as he could. But while I was looking in one direction, he was beginning to take off in another.  He started work training yesterday and seems happier than he has in a long time.

Lesson learned! I thought he needed an education, and I’m the one that got schooled.

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Listen to the Podcast: JHA044: Working Man | http://sonyaking.com/jha044-working-man