We are all ugly ducklings until we find our own kind---the SWANS

This site is about my life as a long-term caregiver to my adult son. I want to share my experiences so that another parent who feels like an "ugly duckling" (rejected and misunderstood by friends and family) will realize that they too are a swan. Caregivers are inspiring and supporting each other in a world that is increasingly leaving vulnerable groups to fend for themselves as social service cuts and conservative "punishment" spirals such populations into poverty and hopelessness. Finding parents like me (who care for an ID child/adult) has helped me feel better about myself and more emotionally able to find the "gems" in life that bring happiness despite the challenges that rule my day :-)