8420 HIGH RIDGE RD ELLICOTT CITY, MD 21043

Property Site: http://tour.circlepix.com/home/Q24JXA/8420-HIGH-RIDGE-RD-ELLICOTT-CITY-MD-1006036542

Bedrooms: 5

Bathrooms: 5

Square feet: 4,028

Price: $800,000

For more information about this property, please contact Chi Yon Barbosa at 410.884.2767 or chiyonbarbosa@northroprealty.com. You can also text 5265152 to 67299 (Message and Data Rates May Apply, see terms and privacy policy).

MLS ID: 1006036542

https://www.facebook.com/Realestatewithchi https://www.twitter.com/Asperger_Mom http://https:://www.youtube.com/channel/UCw4gOwbwMWIChsRVGBOXlUw

1199 BRADLEY RD SEVERN, MD 21144

Property Site: http://tour.circlepix.com/home/PTPRH6/1199-BRADLEY-RD-SEVERN-MD-1002346118

Bedrooms: 4

Bathrooms: 3

Square feet: 4,680

Price: $2,750

For more information about this property, please contact Chi Yon Barbosa at 410.884.2767 or chiyonbarbosa@northroprealty.com. You can also text 5229814 to 67299 (Message and Data Rates May Apply, see terms and privacy policy).

MLS ID: 1002346118

https://www.facebook.com/Realestatewithchi https://www.twitter.com/Asperger_Mom http://https:://www.youtube.com/channel/UCw4gOwbwMWIChsRVGBOXlUw

10546 STANSFIELD RD LAUREL, MD 20723

Property Site: http://tour.circlepix.com/home/337SKR/10546-STANSFIELD-RD-LAUREL-MD-1002175322

Bedrooms: 4

Bathrooms: 4

Square feet: 4,072

Price: $575,000

For more information about this property, please contact Chi Yon Barbosa at 410.884.2767 or chiyonbarbosa@northroprealty.com. You can also text 5204645 to 67299 (Message and Data Rates May Apply, see terms and privacy policy).

MLS ID: 1002175322

https://www.facebook.com/Realestatewithchi https://www.twitter.com/Asperger_Mom http://https:://www.youtube.com/channel/UCw4gOwbwMWIChsRVGBOXlUw

Sunk Cost? My aspie's journey home

Sunk Cost.

 This is the only term from the two semesters of Economics in college. But the word is more relevant to me as a parent. My aspie courageously took the big leap to a four-year college over five thousand miles away. He, no undoubtedly, had bumps along the way. I left him alone in his world; to make mistakes and hopefully learn from them. And I didn't want to be a helicopter parent. It was a big gamble, an expensive gamble. After three semesters, during his winter break, we sat down to talk. I knew he wasn't happy where he was and I had to say what I knew he wanted to admit. He wanted to come home.

December 17, 2014. Yes, I remember the date because, the very next day was a very long drive to his school to bring the rest of his things back home. There wasn't much talking on our 7-hour drive to his school. When we got to the big empty campus, the reasons for his wanting to leave was very apparent. I don't know why I did not notice before. I could see how he could feel isolated in an enormous campus. He packed his things and withdrew from the school. My only thoughts at this point were that I didn't see any of his friends. I walked with him to the bookstore to meet his friend.

I decided to go back to the hotel because I was afraid he was being stood up and I didn't want to feel his embarrassment. I cried thinking, he must have been alone all this time and he wasn't telling me. I waited for him and hoped he would be late and he was. His "friends" were too busy to meet him before he left, he said. But when he got back, he was absolutely thrilled. His friend showed up to meet him. His friend came along with a dozen more turned up to send him off. I cried (inside) for different reasons. We drove back feeling relieved and for very different reasons.

Sunk cost according businessdictionary.com is money already spent and permanently lost. They are past opportunity costs that are partially irretrievable and, therefore, should be considered irrelevant to the future decision-making. The cost of 3 semesters of out of state tuition, room & board, books, travel cost, and time is irretrievable. But I can't say all is lost. The life lessons he learned and the connections he made (on his own) was definitely worth every penny.

Finally, all grown up?

College orientation done.
Now we wait.
I planned his birthday, it ended us in NY City. A place he wanted to go to school.

After orientation we head to the big apple

We had to do this, actually, I had to do this.

Yes, we were from the country. Met his 18th birthday at Time Square

Of course, aspie side of him just could let go of visiting the museum


After two days, reality sets in. Time to go back home.

Back home to Hawaii

To see the Sunset

And get ready to meet the future.



College orientation surprise for me & my aspie

I took a gamble.
I left it up to him to pick the school to apply to.
I didn't even look at his essays.
I didn't even look at his grades.
He got into the schools he wanted, not Ivy League school, but close.

People asked me why I didn't arrange orientation on the week of the move in date. I didn't have the strength to tell them about the aspergers aspect. I was too tired and didn't want to explain.

We took the two day orientation to a place with 11 plus hours of traveling involved.
My anxiety went through the roof. My husband couldn't get off the ship so he could only make it to the graduation.

It was up to me to take him there. It was going to be my last trip with him before he went off to college. We left a day early and made the trip worthwhile.

At the school, they said, "Say good bye to your kids because you won't see them for the next two days. Parents will be getting their own orientation. Your kids will experience the dorm life and get a taste of what was to come." My heart sank. It sank even though he was coming back home with me this time.

I held on to my phone, with the charger in my purse, with my dear life. All the questions I had regarding the school was secondary. They made sure all the information was provided to the parents. It was there just to handle our jitters. I was sure he would text me any minute.

Then it happened.

Nothing.

And next day, one text.

"Mom, thank you very much."

I don't think I've been surprised by anything else in my life. I've been bugging him for years to use Korean he's been taught in a separate class for years.

He loved the school, he got all the information and by the time he go home, he was motivated to exercise and then decided to volunteer for a special ed class at his old high school and hospice before going back to college.

He absolutely loves the schools.
Staff was well aware & prepared to meet his needs.
School was determined to get him adjusted to the school in everyway they could.

Will he do well? I don't know.
But he is re-doing his bucket list as I write this blog.

Florence 2013
 

Planning his new adventure....

What a way to spend a day, hike challenge by W

It was a challenge from W. I knew I wasn't ready, much like parenthood. I got a few good pictures, well, more like W got great pictures. I had mine handed to me. :) 

My long hike with W.

W's view from top of Kokohead

W's view from the top

Long way down

P.S. I didn't make the 1000 steps. I stopped half way. As I sat on one of the wooden blocks, I fainted. No damage. I am alive. But my steps going down was even longer than my climb. A memorable day none the less.