Emily update

[Jackie]

Ok...for those of you who think it can't get any tougher...wait until you have to make some life altering decisions...LOL.

Actually these are GOOD decisions...but hard ones.

There is a nice little house a block from ours....actually on the same street. It is about 1400 sq feet...3 bedrooms and 2 baths. Real estate is very cheap around here right now so it would cost less than 100 000 to buy it.

When you think that if Em moves into an apartment and we blow 4-500/month on rent...this seems like a darn good investment in her future.

Problem is....she still wants to go live in Austin...but there it would be with her sister at her home. She also likes this house and the independence that would come with it. A decision must be made very soon or we will most likely lose the chance to purchase it

Also Em and I differ on how to redecorate.....she informed me......she wanted to do it from.....SPENCERS GIFTS!!!!!!!! ...black lights, beads....a total VH1 house she says....I have NO idea what that is.

So...lots of mega decisions for Em and Ed and me....and Katie in Austin as well ....as to what her future needs to be.

Ideally the choice would be JUST Emily's but sometimes life doesn't work that way.

Will keep you all updated.

Jackie mom to Emily 25

[Emilysmom]

Jackie~ Maybe you could do the best of both??? Maybe you could GRAB this house while it's available, and rent it out until Em is ready for it? She could spend this summer at Katie's house and enjoy the kids, knowing that she has her own home to come back to in the fall!
Let the decorating begin!!! And LOL I'm with Em..........she needs a year or so with black lights and neon! I'm thinking you should start watching VH1 to get some tips!!

Susan

[ValerieC]

Go Em! Black lights and beads, not my choice, but a cool one I must say!!!

You make my heart rejoice to see the independence that Emily has and desires. I look at Alethea at just 20 months and am still looking to what the future may hold for her. You know, wondering will she be independent. Will she live with us until the time comes for her to live her older brother (my 7 year old already claimed her LOL!). My mom keeps telling me that we just don't know what her future will be and she is absolutely right. We don't.

What does Emily do as a "career" choice?

Does Emily want to live near you all the time? Is her sister willing to have Emily live there full time? I know ya'll have already hashed those questions out, I'm just always interested in family dynamics in this area.

My friend with a 20 year old DS son is building an apartment onto their house for him. When the time comes that they can't care for him any longer, he'll live with his sister and her husband (agreed upon before the engagement). She is amazing with him.

I'm sorry if I'm asking too many questions...just wondering, that's all!

Valerie C

[CC]

I agree with SUSAN, go for it buy it and rent it out untill you decide, and maybe one day Emily will want to live there. Man any house for $100,000 is a steal and worth the investment.

Just a thought but along with where Emily would prefer to live, which location would offer the best job opportunities, social opportunities and so forth?? I am sure you have all thought of that stuff too, just thought I would throw it out there

Remember MOM, everyone likes to decorate their own space to reflect them, so I say if Emily wants to move into the house, let her decorate her way

BEST of LUCK with what ever decision you all come up with.

CC ~

[Jackie]

Well sad to say.....after long angst ridden talks with Miss Em...she really wants to return to Austin.

She has told me more than once...."Mom...Katie really needs me with those kids!" At dinner the other night with her best friend who is LD....friend asked her...."Em ....how many kids do YOU want to have?"

I waited with baited breath for her answer and Em replied "NONE.....I have Katie's kids who need me...and besides I don't want to have kids with DS and mine might". (sigh sigh sigh of relief...LOL).....she then went on to describe to her friend how hard it is to take care of kids.

Last night she told me she loves Katie's life and wants to be like her. She also said she wants to be in a "loud" house....like Katie's.

So...after reading your posts ....and after being Katie's in- traffic- phone -entertainment on her way to work this AM....we have decided to tell Em we think she should probably get ready to go back to Austin...that Katie needs her. Then we will decide ....without her input....what to do about this house.

As I said before....its a gem of a property in terms of condition and location for us....but....there are two other small houses next to it with what appear to be elderly owners so they might also be available sometime in the future if we miss this opportunity.

This is a neighborhood that was developed in the early 60's so you have different size homes sort of mixed in...unlike developments that are newer where all the homes are in the same price range. So...if we miss this one...there will most likely be more if not on our block...within easy walking distance.

I will keep you all posted on how this plays out.

Also on our teens site we have started an interesting thread....car ownership for non drivers....apparently one can own a car without losing SSI benefits...even if someone else drives it. Interesting topic

Jackie mom to Emily 25

[momofrussell]

Regan, my oldest, would LOVE to help Emily decorate from SPENCERS! LOLOL!

I am glad Emily has such great opportunties!!! Both from you and from Katie, in Austin!

A.

[laneysmom]

Jackie, I have to admit that Emily was one of the people who lured me to this board. I am fascinated in hearing more and more about her life. She sounds very independent. Although Laney is 1lmost 15 and will be living with us as long as needed, I often think about her housing issues in the future and look around occasionally in our community at what might be nice for her. I do think that she could someday live independently or at least semi indepnedently. I like Emily's response in the "having her own children" issue. Laney often talks of having her own kids and I was wondering if and when you talked to Emily about those kinds of dreams. I don't want to tell Laney she cannot have her own children, but I know that couldn't be a possibility for her. Also, I am curious about the board you are talking about the car issue? Could you give me that site? Thanks

[Jackie]

Sure...this is the link to the teens and adults site. It is populated mostly by people who have kids Laney's age and older.

groups.yahoo.com/group/DS_Teens_Plus/files/

As to the having kids issue...that has evolved thru the years. I too never wanted to have to look her in the face and say...YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE KIDS. So, we did it subtly over the years using the Baby Think it Over Program in HS (computerized doll) and she did the same program again later at ENMU/Roswell where she attended a special services program. Personally I think her most current "on the job" training living in her older sister Katie's house with two very active kids and all the kids in the cul de sac neighborhood has done a lot too to make her understand how much work kids are.

As to the house issue...today we went and took one last look mainly so Emily's aunt could go with us and take a peek. Emily had a rather grim expression on her face the whole time and I was sure she was going to say...its over mom...I am going to Austin...but..... NOW Em is saying she and her best friend might live there. Her old boyfriend , Elvis, showed up to take her to his house for dinner (remember 6'4" Elvis who drives a red truck???)...and she was going to have him drive by and look at it.....

She also spent many long minutes on the phone with each of her SIBs over this issue and havent had the time to check in with them for their take on all of this.

I guess a part of me just hopes the realtor calls and says its over cuz someone else bought it....LOL.

Jackie