I hear the term

And so much is

Running through my head

As they call me this

"Childish", "Retarded"

"Immature"

"You will never have a normal life"

"You will never be independent"

These are the words

That cut through my heart like a knife

Whenever my mother forces me to sit outside

Another Parents of Emerging Adults "support" group

Someone says I have special needs

And I'm automatically babied

Like I still need to be

In a daycare facility

Not allowed to grow

They say this is to help me

They say this is for my benefit

But I don't see any progress

I don't see any growth

I don't see any development

I hate myself even more

I feel trapped

I want to grow

I want to be better

But I feel like I can't

Move on to the next chapter of my life

Because everyone is forcing me

To reread the last one

Over and over again

I get my first leadership position

And the reactions I get from my family

Is doubt

Doubt that I will ever be able to handle the challenges

But I prove them wrong

I take on the challenges

I do what is expected of me

I just want others to be proud

But nothing's ever enough

"How can someone like YOU

Be a leader?"

These words eat me up

More and more

Until I get fed up with it

And burnout and lash out

I do have needs

But my needs are not "special"

They're like everyone else's

To be accepted