Independence. ?

Sometimes independence looks like tailing your kid from a safe distance like a stalker .
Here's a story (there's a moral here, stick with me)
My son is 17, he wants to do what 17 year olds do. I get it. But he was upset, and upset = irrational and unpredictable. He took off on a scooter and headed to the park. I gave him a headstart, and then got in the car. I saw him head into the park , and then drove to where I could see the swing from the road. Sure enough, he headed to the swing, and feeling proud of myself, I quietly stalked from the car like a creeper, at least he was safe.
Until ..
He hopped off the swing and walked further into the park. I watched, but couldn't see where he went . I drove home and told my husband to bike around the perimeter of the park.
I waited , a bit too long. He came back, out of breath and said he couldn't find him .
Hoping he would show up, I contemplated what I could actually do in that moment. My phone rang. When I answered , all I could hear was music.  I hung up. The phone rang again, again, just music. I was confused, but started to see an incoming text - something about my son, at a party, all ok... Wanted to let you know...
I showed my husband and he said "there is a party happening near the park entrance on the other side! I drove over, and looked for loud live music. Sure enough, a house party was taking place, live band in the driveway, kids, a trampoline, lots of people, and my son. In their garage helping himself to soda and brownies, and dancing to the music.
Relieved, confused, and humiliated, I caught the eye of a woman with cellphone in hand , and she quickly flagged me over. Turns out, by some crazy miracle she was the old nurse of our pediatrician once upon a time, and had been the one attempting to text me.
The good news in all this, was, my son was wearing a bracelet I had made for him with his name, and my number, and the added note: "autistic- may not respond" . I had it made in the event he would be questioned by police, and I told him to point to his bracelet and say over and over "read my bracelet" . At 17 my son is as big as a man now , If a 5 year old wandered into a private party and started dancing , people would respond with grace and care, but a strange man? You hope that police are not called, you hope he isn't misunderstood, you hope he doesn't panic, you hope he doesn't .. well, you think of the worst things. But here is what I'm choosing to focus on- he handed his bracelet to this woman, this older nurse, who looked like a safe Gramma, and said "can you call my mom for me and tell her I'm here"
THIS IS A HUGE WIN guys. He did it. He remembered to call me. He didn't have his watch on that can make a phone call, but he had my number on his wrist and he used it!
But, yes, he did bomb some random family's party, He did eat their snacks, and He was very much dancing away in their driveway . It was not good...it wasn't a safe thing to do, but, it could have been SO. MUCH. WORSE.  The person who's party it was recognized my son from the farmers market, from his reputation as an artist, and one of the guests used to be his nurse when he was little, and he asked for assistance to call me. These are the things that saved us , this time. Community. I can't underestimate the importance of being involved in your community in some way. Stick to a small town, and force your introverted self to be out there , with your child, meeting people, gaining a reputation , gaining their trust, so that if you lose him/her at some point, or there is a problem, a crisis , they call YOU, and NOT the police.
Thank God it was ok this time.

When they don't hit a milestone

This week we found ourselves at the DMV to get a state ID for my son. It hadn't occurred to me that he needed one, but not being in a public school , he doesn't have a school ID, and he has had a few things come up recently where he needed an ID.
I filled out the paperwork and watched as he signed his name is LARGE caps on the line , and needed to be reminded how to spell his last name. I watched as he stood for his photo just like the other 17 year olds getting their drivers license. The ID looks just like a driver's license , but it's not one. I pretend that I'm not bothered that he isn't getting his license, that he will likely never get it. It's another milestone that we are not doing.
The truth is, I'm not upset for me, but I am worried for him.
We all worry as parents, right? But not like this.