No Drinking in Utero-NO FASD
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By the worlds standards, my son is grown up.
He’s an adult, but his life was messed up.
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It all began when his birth mom, didn’t know
that alcohol in pregnancy, could damage him so.
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Now he can’t understand, what is so wrong
He wants to feel like an adult. just to belong
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He can’t manage time, money or bills
He can’t remember daily, to take his pills.
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He does not know how to listen, or hear
what could help him each day, for he has no fear
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of the dangers that lie just waiting for him
to reach out and grab him and take him in.
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Risk taking is regular, in his life
and he loves to argue, his point in strife
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As his adopted mom, we chose him
what the future held for us, was very dim.
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We didn’t realize at the time, that our son
would have problems in life, that could not be undone.
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Now we grieve, what he cannot be
because our son has FASD.
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What is that? Would you like to know?
How did alcohol, damage him so?
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Well you see, little babies cannot drink
intoxication for them is the very link
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It pickles their tiny, wee little brains
and causes cells to die, growth looses gains
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Each time it happens, the brain shrinks down
and looses impulses, that carry messages around
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Soon the routes for thoughts do not work right
this poor child’s life, becomes a great fight
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Many say, he’s so bad and not right
they think he is angry and not very bright.
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If he only would listen and learn what to do
All would be well, yes we will fix you.
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Not going to happen with this child you see.
His brain is damaged, He has FASD.
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So life goes on for my son each day.
He tries to do right, but there seems no way.
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He cannot connect, what he needs to grow
He will always be lagging, and struggling so.
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Managing a job, is a task he can’t do
He needs an aid in life, someone just to,
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Keep him on, the right path each day
An overwhelming task, I just want to say.
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My child needs help, for his life to be
safe from bad choices, that he doesn’t see
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Can put him in danger, jail, or the grave.
He does not realize, how to behave.
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I want to tell you, that this is not right.
If you will just listen, please open your sight.
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This can all be prevented, if you will see.
No drinking in utero, No FASD.
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By Terry Quinn http://www.parentingfasdkids.com
parentingfasdkids 
What a true and touching poem. I joined yesterday because of your post. Link from FASlink.
Every bit of it is pain shared. Our daughter is still young but has this future, because of the parts of her brain that were damaged. Being the safe haven and the target is an awful place.
I don’t think her birth mom knew the damages she was causing. We didn’t know. My obgyn recommended an occasional glass of wine during my pregnancy with our now teenage son. I did not drink but he has other inherited issues that make him vulnerable.
He has “graduated” but not able to be on his own. Disability might help financially but it will be squandered without supervision if he can qualify, but she will need this. IDK about group homes but it has been in the back of my mind for a while. I’ve been laboring on educational needs IEP’s and the many specialists that our girl has needed so far, just dealing with the day-to-day.
Lee has rage and destruction responses that have impacted our lives in ways only the parents of other FASD parents can know. I join you in supportive prayer for our children.