Dear Joy,
I can only hope that my daughter will be as thoughtful as you.  There are
alot of issues in this post the way I see it.  May I suggest taking it slow
and let everyone build of their confidence.  It is hard to trust your
child's needs to someone else.  Possibly telling your parents that to
increase your confidence, part of that process is for you to know and
experience that you are ok without them.  At first that may be a once a
week type of thing.  In CA I have a regional center that pays for respite
workers.  Some of the people I know already have gone down and signed up.
A once a week date for your parents may be a good thing to start with.   Do
you have an idea of who could be your aide at home?
Darn it I have to go do dinner and will try to post more later.
Best wishes,
Shawn

>For those of you that don't know me, I'm 16 with spastic diplegia CP.  I
>need help with bathing, dressing, transferring, and other such things.  My
>parents handle all of my care themselves.  My dad ends up doing the vast
>majority of it, simply because of my height and his strength.  I'm worried
>about the effect this is having on my parent's marriage, and also on my
>parents.  They have no time for themselves, and no time to pursue their own
>interests.  I love them, and I don't want to be a burden.  Does anyone have
>any suggestions as to how to get them to consider getting an aide to help
>with caring for me?  I've mentioned it, and they always say that it's no
>problem, and that they do it from love.  I know that's true, but what they
>want to be able to do and what they can psychologically and physically
>handle are two completely different things.  Does anyone have ideas as to
>how I can approach this and help them, without making them feel useless or
>guilty?  Thank you so much!
>
>~Joy~
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>http://www.geocities.com/joy0823
>"Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups."