At a traditional wedding ceremony, the bride throws the bouquet and the girl who catches it is the next to be married, or so the story goes. When our oldest daughter married a couple of weeks ago, the single women lined up for a chance to catch the bouquet and a dream of being married next. Of course, all of her sisters, except Amigrace because she is only one, lined up as well. Who should jump out to clutch the bouquet from the air? Our Lyn, who will turn 14 in a couple of weeks, that’s who.

I am sure that our daughter, the bride, would not have aimed the bouquet at Lyn. Why would she, when both of her single birth sisters who are 26 and 19 were in the throng. There was also grandma's 18 year old foster daughter, and the bride's new sister-in-law, there hoping to grab the bouquet in front of her boyfriend.

I am sure Lyn has dreams of someday getting married. She follows her brother, Buck, around like a little puppy when his friend, Jared, comes to our house, something she never does at other times. She once wrote in her diary that she thought about kissing a boy, but she knew that she was too young. I always tell my children that they have to be 18 to kiss someone; thankfully, she believes it is true. It is obvious to everyone that she has a huge crush on Jared.

I am aware that other people with special needs have married and lived happily ever after. She is a very sweet and loving person who will work very hard if you tell her exactly what to do. I am sure that seeing her big sister’s wedding put ideas in her head about her future. Realistically, what should she expect? Jared’s IQ is well above a hundred, he’s a very bright kid. Her IQ is in the borderline range for mental retardation. Is this a realistic goal?

AdoptionWeek e-Magazine To subscribe visit AdoptionWeek.com

Here is Your Engraved Invitation – Living With FAS
When Should an Adoptive Parent Cut the Purse Strings?
When an Older Sibling Can Drive
When Your Adopted Children Turn Against You
Did You Ever Think, “My Child’s Special Needs Are Too Much to Handle?”