Being reliant on others for my daily living is one of my fears and I guess I am going to get to that point one day, if I make it that far, so will have to accept it. Yet, I hope to prolong self-sufficiency for as long as possible. As a parent, a big part of the job is ensuring my daughter will be able to operate effectively in the world, and that means helping her gain the skills for self-sufficiency. My parents didn't do a good job of this, but they didn't do a bad job either - they did almost no job. I had to work most of it out for myself.

Everyone will eventually become dependent on someone, and they must be. Just as babies depend on their parents when they're young, parents can also become dependent on their children as they grow older. This is perfectly normal. Many things in life are reciprocal. How you treat people now will resonate with them in the future. Your dependence on Smallsteps or your spouse is a pleasure for them. As a father and husband, you have your best interests at heart. They will treat you accordingly.