Thursday, January 31, 2013

Count on Me: Tales of Sisterhood & Fierce Friendships (Book Review & Twitter Party!)

Count on Me: Tales of Sisterhood and Fierce Friendships 
by Las Comadres Para Las Americas and Adriana V. Lopez
available for purchase at www.countonmebook.com


Count On Me: Tales of Sisterhood and Fierce Friendships is a collection of personal essays from Latina authors - including Esperanza Santiago, Sofia Quintero and Daisy Martinez - and with an introduction by  Nora de Hoyos Comstock (President & CEO of Las Comadres Para Las Americas). An anthology of poignant childhood stories, memories of mothers and tributes to loved ones, it is a celebration of individuals who have influenced and shaped the lives of the writers, and their stories will inspire yours. There is something in Count On Me for everyone and it is for anyone who has ever cherished a friendship.

Reading Count On Me reminded me of my mother and Madrina's friendship and the significance their relationship had on my life. I knew that if I got in trouble with one, I was in trouble with the other. But I am grateful to have received the love of two mothers. From an early age I knew that what they had was special.  They taught me the value of friendship. And they helped me recognize the true friendships in my life.    

Count On Me is also the inspiration behind Latinas for Latino Literature 2nd Twitter party. And I am excited to announce that Nora de Hoyos Comstock and Alexandra Landeros will be joining us! (Last month Latinas for Latino Literature was launched and we kicked off our first blog hop and Twitter Party. And earlier this month, we created our Facebook Page: Latinas for Latino Literature.)

The Details for the Twitter Party

Date: Monday, February 4 

Time: 
9 pm EST/ 8pm CST/ 6pm PST

Hosts: @LaliQuin @LatinMami @VivianaHurtado @CarlaMolinaM @LBConnect

With Special Guests: @UndercoverMexi @LasComadresBook

Hashtags: #LatinoLit #LasComadres 

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Wise Words of Buddha


Today is my last first day of graduate school. I've dreamed of this moment for the five years...maybe longer.

I've been thinking a lot lately about the past five years. All that I've lost. And all that I've gained. Life has not been easy. But whose life is?

I spend a lot of time worrying thinking about the what ifs of the future. What will happen when I am finally done with school? Will it have been worth it?

I cannot change the past. There's a part of me that doesn't really want to either. As for the future? No amount of dreaming could provide certainty.


And all the time I've spent dwelling in the past or dreaming of the future - I forgot about where I actually am. The present. 

This is the present.

And I'm not spending enough time in it. I'm not concentrating enough on it. I've realized some of the best moments of my life have slipped by unnoticed because I didn't concentrate enough in the present.

Today is the last day of my first day of graduate school. Today is going to be a good day. 

Monday, January 28, 2013

Warrior Mom Monday: Meet Christine P.

Warrior Mom Monday is a new monthly series on AutismWonderland. Every last Monday of the month, I will highlight a Warrior Mom.

I assure you, "Warrior Mom" has absolutely nothing to do with Jenny McCarthy. The term and the meaning is much much bigger than her. It also has nothing to do with what you feed your kid, or if you give your child supplements or whether or not you believe autism can be cured. 

Warrior Mom is about being an amazing mother. A strong mother who is fighting for her kid(s). It's about being a really wonderful mom who is willing do whatever it takes.

Often people will tell me what a great mom I am. And while I appreciate their words, I know so many great moms - doing the same thing I'm doing. The only difference is that I chronicle our experience on this blog. I often find myself inspired by the other moms - moms without blogs - and I wanted to share their story, their experience here.      


Name:  Christine P.

Where did you grow up?/Where do you live? I grew up in Jackson Heights, and moved to Staten Island when I was about 8. Have lived on "The Rock" ever since.

# of Children/Names/Ages/DiagnosisDevin and Sara - twin 8-year old girls diagnosed with PDD-NOS at 18mos.  Now considered "other impaired" (according to their IEP)

Relationship Status: Married to Ron for 10 years last September. Never had a fight.

Occupation:  CEO (Chief Everything Officer) of my little homestead.

On Dealing with Diagnosis

Prior to your child's diagnosis, what did you think autism was?  How has your thinking changed?  

Truth be told, I never really thought about Autism. Because after all, it couldn't possibly happen to me, right? If pressed for an answer, I suppose I would have said that an autistic child was one that was "locked in their own world". Of course now I know that it can (and did) happen to me. Autism is a bitch. Autism is a nasty word. Autism is an opportunity to change people's thinking. 

What is your biggest challenge/frustration about raising a child with special needs?

Our families didn't really "get it" at first. I would hear things like "oh, don't be silly. They're FINE." or "You're overreacting." We would attend family functions and folks wouldn't understand (or worse, would get offended) because I came to parties with my own foods. They didn't understand why my kids didn't just sit down and eat pizza like the rest of the kids: believe me, my life would've been so much easier if they had!  Family members would ask me about their therapies, and when I'd answer questions, they'd say things like, "Gee, I'm looking at them now and they don't ACT like there's anything wrong..." Well, that's because you've been in a room with them for a couple of hours: come stay at my house for a week, and see if your opinion changes.  

Once we had a diagnosis, and we started therapy, my husband and I decided that I would not go back to work. I'm lucky that I was able to have that luxury. I'm a control freak by nature and being home enabled me to observe therapy and do carry-over work during the week. 

Don't get me started on the Department of Ed. All things considered, I've had a pretty easy road so far. Our Turning 5 was pretty stressful. The psychologist who evaluated my kids was a complete nightmare and I almost put her through a wall. And the OPT? Every single school year I'm entering complaints about my kids being on the bus over the allowed time. Every. Single. Year.

How do you deal with your challenges/frustrations?   

Wine. Lots of wine. :)

I have a really good support network. I've made the most of social connections, and have several other moms who have older kids, and have been through everything I'm going through. It helps to bounce things off someone who has been there/done that.

What has surprised you most about your child(ren)?

My daughters have surprised just about everyone. When they arrived at their District 75 preschool at 3 years old, they had no functional language: They had sensory issues, they were stimming. If you met them today, you'd be hard-pressed to see any autism "tells".  There are things I see, but that's because I'm their mom. 

Who do you get the most support from?

My husband. He keeps me in check, and he's the first person to encourage me when its time to get all "Warrior Mom" on someone. :)

What do you dream for your child?

It's pedestrian I know...but I just want my girls to be accepted. I want them to have lots of friends, to be successful, to be independent.  And I want them to go to college.

One thing you wish you knew when your child was initially diagnosed.  

That there IS a light at the end of the tunnel. There is hope. And as the mom, you're the one who holds onto the hope for them.

What do you want strangers/other children to know about your child/children?

My daughters are sweet, imaginative, loving, funny, and sassy. Don't judge them just because they won't eat chicken nuggets and french fries, or because they still like Alvin and the Chipmunks (which is like, SO two years ago).

One piece of advice you would give a parent hearing the diagnosis for the first time.

DON'T RUSH TO THE INTERNET. You will only freak yourself out. Take some time, take it in, then make a plan. Document EVERYTHING. Remember that YOU are the parent, and YOU know your child better than anyone, better than any doctor, therapist, specialist, or teacher. Remember that you are their voice when they have no voice.

Just for Fun

You have 2 hours to yourself.  What do you do?  Only TWO?? Maybe a massage...or more likely, get a BIG Dunkin iced coffee and scrapbook uninterrupted. I'm easy.

If you had to skip one, which would you skip: dinner or dessert?  DINNER.

Three items you can't leave home without.
My iPhone, my wallet, and my lip gloss. Not necessarily in that order.

Warrior Mom Christine with husband Ron. (below)
Their girls, Sarah & Devon. (on top)

Sunday, January 27, 2013

AW Sunday Review: Teres Kids Clothes

In my life before mom, I was a bit of a fashionista. I've always been a lover of fashion and cool clothes. As for The Husband, he's even worse than most women. And my sense of fashion has been influenced by him for sure. (I am sure I will regret those words.) 

When I became a mom, I knew I wanted The Boy's style to reflect ours. And it does. 

At the same time, I have to find clothes that are comfortable. An autism and/or sensory processing disorder makes clothes shopping challenging. Clothing needs to be super soft, easy to take on and off and without annoying itchy tags, buttons or zippers.


So I was excited when Teres Kids reached out to me and asked if I'd be willing to do a product review. As soon as I clicked on the sight, I fell in love with their clothes - it was just our style. I picked out a shirt (see below) for The Boy and the cutest Vertical Ruffle Dress for my goddaughter, Livi.

I was quite pleased when I received the items - the quality and craftsmanship were excellent. The colors vibrant. The cotton extremely soft. And they were perfect for layering. I knew they were comfortable enough to wear throughout the day.

The Boys loves his cool t-shirt. It's something that he wear from school to the playground to an occupational therapy session at the sensory gym. And he's happier in clothes he's comfortable in.

The Boy wearing his Guitar on Crimson Long Sleeve Printed T-Shirt

Disclaimer: I was provided with complimentary products from Teres Kids, all opinions are my own and have not been influenced in any way.

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

It's Day 5 of the NYC School Bus Strike. Seriously?! When will it end?

We're on Day 5 of the strike.

I have used my 4th vacation day.

Yesterday I spent the entire day at The Boy's school. In a storage room. You can check out the You Tube video HERE.

Today I commuted to The Boy's school using public transportation.

How did it go? See for yourself...


Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Day 4 of the NYC School Bus Strike aka My First Edited Vlog. Ever.

Day 4 of the New York City School Bus Strike.

I took my 3rd vacation day and spent the day at The Boy's school. 

And...because there was no Wifi - I decided to make a vlog. And I edited it (sort of). 

And yes - it took the majority of my day.  
(I was allowed to stay at the school for the day, provided I did interfere with The Boy's day.)

Monday, January 21, 2013

Faith Is...


Today is Martin Luther King Day and the 2nd inauguration of our President. It's a day of inspiration, hope and faith. It's a day to reflect and to look ahead.

I'm not a religious person. But that's not to say I do not have faith. There have been times in these last few years, I've had to rely on faith alone. It's the thing that's kept me going - especially in my darkest moments

Yesterday The Boy turned seven. Birthdays are always bittersweet.  While we celebrate another year, it's also a reminder. And with every year, the gap between typical and atypical grows wider. 

Every year, it's a little harder to see the whole staircase.

And I have to remember how far The Boy's come. I think of the milestones that keep me going on the days when I think I can't take another step.

I think of that Spring day almost five years ago when I first heard the words: your son has autism. At the time The Boy had no language, he couldn't point or clap or give me kiss. The staircase was impossible to see.

And then slowly, The Boy started to make progress and it became easier to take steps - even though I still couldn't see the whole staircase. I had faith.

I continue to have faith.

I don't know what the future holds for The Boy. I don't know even what the future holds for me. But I do know that The Boy will make progress. That while the gap between typical and atypical may not fully close, The Boy will continue to flourish. His language will continue to develop. He will become independent enough to manage his day to day needs. He will continue to teach me, surprise me and inspire me.

I don't need to see the whole staircase to know that. I don't even need to see a single step. I will continue to walk with The Boy hand in hand up the (at times, invisible) staircase until he is ready to take his first steps on his own. 

Sunday, January 20, 2013

Happy 7th Birthday to The Boy

Today is The Boy's 7th birthday. And like most mother's I wonder where the time went. It seems like only yesterday I brought him home from the hospital. 

Birthday parties are tough when you have a kid with autism. And for the last few years, we've really struggled about what to do to celebrate.  Last year, we went to the Monster Truck showWe get by with going to his school and bringing in cupcakes. But this year, the NYC School Bus Strike kind of put a damper on that. 

So this year, we kept it really low key. We went to friend's house yesterday and we had cupcakes and sang. The Boy had fun playing with his friends.  And today, we spent the day in Connecticut - just me, The Boy and The Husband. We went to the Maritime Aquarium, the Stepping Stones Children Museum and to P.F. Chang's for an early dinner. 

The Husband and I wish we could have done something more...typical (for lack of a better word). But The Boy had fun. He got some cool new toys and books. He got Chinese rice and cake. And as long The Boy has a good time on his birthday, that's all that matters.

How do you celebrate birthdays?    



Mesmerized

Feeling very Downton Abbey in this photo.  

They were so serious. I got hit a lot.  
Having a blast! (not to self: next time, short sleeves are best.)


Stepping into a Diego Rivera painting


Unknown Mami

Saturday, January 19, 2013

Dear Mayor Bloomberg and Local 1181 (an open letter regarding the NYC School Bus Strike)

Dear Mayor Bloomberg and Local 1181,

Below is a picture of my son, Norrin. He will be seven years old tomorrow. He has autism and goes to a special education school in Westchester - 22 miles away from our apartment building in The Bronx. 

As my husband and I are both working parents - we rely on the Office of Pupil Transportation and the Local 1181 to get Norrin to and from school safely.

I am sure some wonder why we would choose to send our only child to a school so far way. It was not an easy decision to make. But not a single public school in The Bronx could meet Norrin's specific needs. It was a fight to get him placed into a specialized school but his school was well worth the fight.    

Yesterday, Friday, January 18, 2013, was the 3rd day of the NYC School Bus Strike. And my son Norrin is 1 of the 152,000 students stranded. On Wednesday and Thursday, I had no choice but to take vacation days from work to stay home with Norrin. But on the third day, I had to go into work. And with limited childcare options, I had no choice but to bring Norrin in with me. 



I am administrative assistant and my husband is a NYS Supreme Court Officer - we don't have the kind of jobs where we have the privilege of working from home on a whim. My husband, cannot even manage to take a single day off from work to pick Norrin up from school. So the responsibility rests on me. And while we have a car, I do not know how to drive. In order for me to get Norrin from school, I need to take a bus, MetroNorth and a cab - it's a 2 hour commute (one way). And I know parents are to be reimbursed for service but it's a $75 fare and I can't afford this on a daily basis.

Norrin isn't the kind of kid who can ride in a car pool with strangers. He still sits in a car seat. He has limited language and functions at a 4 year old level. Norrin's a runner and needs his hand to be held at all times. And while Norrin is okay riding trains - I do not feel comfortable sending him off with someone else - whether they know Norrin or not. When I commute with him, I keep both hands on Norrin while waiting on train platforms and when sitting on the train, I keep a hand on his knee because he tries to get up. If we're standing, I have to keep reminding him to hold on because he doesn't know how to keep his balance.     

So now I am forced to choose. Do I go to work? Or do I take my child to school?

I heard that out of the 145 students that attend Norrin's school only 43 kids showed up. These kids are missing out their much needed related services like Speech and Occupational Therapy. And because school is technically open - these  services will not be made up. They are missing out on classroom instruction and peer relationship building. Their routines are being disrupted. These are children at risk for regression. 

Norrin has come such a long way since his diagnosis, I cannot risk him regressing. And after disruptions to his routine, it takes weeks to get him back on track. So on Tuesday, I will need to take another vacation day so that Norrin can go to school.      

I have a generous amount of vacation time - four weeks. But if this strike goes beyond my vacation, I have no idea what I will do. I've already spoken to the Human Resources department and I've been told that this doesn't qualify for FMLA. And I need my vacation time to Norrin to appointments, for IEP meetings, for evaluations. This is beyond a stressful situation.  

So it seems ironic to me that Local 1181 members are fighting for their job protection, while so many parents - especially parents of special needs children - are worried about their own job security. My job is not secure - I can be let go at any given time. And while my bosses may be understanding, my being out of the office is an inconvenience. I worry about my job. Because I need it. And I have no union to fight for my protection.

This strike must end soon. Because the individuals who really need protection are our kids. And I am fighting for them.

Sincerely, 

Norrin's Mom

For more on the NYC School Bus Strike see my other posts: 
What Will I Do If There's a NYC School Bus Strike
Are You Prepared For a School Bus Strike? on Parents.com

MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD - please sign the petition started by Miz Kp of Sailing Autistic Seas!  

Thursday, January 17, 2013

plai theatre: Lend a Hand


When you have a child with special needs, it's tough to find affordable recreational programs. And for some special needs children, inclusion is difficult because they are often the exception. So when I heard about plai theatre (a non profit arts service organization), I was eager to learn more. We attended a workshop back in October and while The Boy had some challenges being in a new environment, the staff was patient and attentive. And what I really appreciated was the schedule they made to help the kids along. 



So when Helena Judd reached out and asked me if I was interested in being a member of the board - I immediately said yes because plai theatre was something I wanted to be part of. And I'm excited to share with you.   


plai stands for Performers Linked by Able Imaginations.  In this time of senseless violence, let's enable ourselves to create, rather than destroy, for in the act of artistic creation, a person is whole and sane.  plai theatre has a staff of professional artists, educators, and creative arts therapists to empower people who are developmentally, and/or cognitively, and/or physically challenged, by turning them on to their own creative gifts. plai theatre has already held some fun and tranformative workshops for children and for teens, and now  we're ready for more programming in 2013.
  • The Adult Ensemble, unlike any other in New York City, provides performance opportunities and socialization time for adults with special needs.  Will you help support that program?
  • Our Adolescent Ensemble will be bringing after school and weekend programming for adolescents between 13 - 24 with special needs a safe and welcoming place to socialize, use their imagination and speak their minds.  Will you help support this program?
  • Our one day workshops will bring fun theatre activities to families and children with special needs.  Ranging from themes of "Helping Hands", "Anger Monsters", and "Move through the Goo" - these workshops work to build relationships between family members and peers with special needs by using Theatre Professionals and Creative Arts Therapists.  Will you help support these workshops?  
Thank you for your generosity. Because of people like you, 2013 is going to be a great year!

*

Helping Hands

Cost: $40
per participant plus family member(s)

Monday, January 21

Parents and their children ages 5 - 10 are welcome to participate in drama games focusing on helping others. Following in Martin Luther King's path, participants will be able to see what possibilities can be found when a little imagination is used. Everything from helping mom in the kitchen, saving a cat that went up a tree to stopping evil villains from destroying the world will be explored in this fun family workshop. Lasting 90 minutes long, a theatre director and Creative Arts therapist will lead the group in fun games that may include drama, dance or music therapy activities. 
37-24 24th Street
Suite 212
Long Island City , NY
11101

To register for the event on Monday, January 21 click HERE 

Locations will vary and space is limited. Registration opens in December. Please send an email to info@plai-theatre.org to put your name on the list early.

To stay up to date, please follow plai theatre on Facebook

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

A Painful Reminder While Sitting in the Waiting Room


Walking into my Ob/Gyn's office, I breathed a sigh of relief. There was no one else in the office. I sat down and filled out all the insurance paperwork. Then the door opened and a woman walked in. Then other. And then another. 

Within ten minutes there were six women in the waiting room. All of them noticeable pregnant.

Then there was me. I am not pregnant. 

This week is hard. The Boy will be seven years old on Sunday. The 20th. 

January 20th was also the due date of the baby that would have been born had I not had a missed miscarriage. The baby would have been two years old. 

I may have moved on but there's no getting over my loss. I will always love and long for the baby I never held, whose heartbeat I only heard. 

So this week I celebrate in company. This week I mourn alone.

Once someone asked me:
Do you think your miscarriage was a blessing - considering all the things you have to go through with your son? 
Without even blinking, I said "No, it wasn't a blessing." 

And I meant it when I said it. But I would be lying if I said, that person's question wasn't something I've wrestled with over the last two years. Especially on days, when things are really hard and I'm not feeling so lucky about raising a kid with autism. And some days I have to stop myself from wondering about how another baby would have altered our lives.  

Sitting in the waiting room, was a painful reminder. Yesterday there was no wrestling. Yesterday I allowed myself to wonder. Yesterday I felt the emptiness of my womb. Yesterday, it definitely didn't feel like a blessing.     

      

 photo credit: notsogoodphotography via photopin cc

Monday, January 14, 2013

What Will I Do If There's a NYC School Bus Strike?

I've been trying not to think about. What we would do if there really is a school bus strike?


We live in The Bronx. The Boy's school is up in Westchester County - twenty miles away. I don't know how to drive. (I just got scolded for the billionth time "this is exactly the reason why you should know how to drive Babe.") And I work down in Manhattan.


Bus drivers and matrons are scheduled to strike starting Wednesday.


You may be wondering how New York City is preparing for a possible school bus strike?  
   






The strike will impact "152,000 students and their families." And a significant amount of these students have special needs.


And it makes me laugh every time every time I hear that the DOE plans on handing out metro cards. "Parents of children in grades K-2 can request an additional MetroCard to escort their child to school." 


So...the DOE thinks it's okay to put a 3rd grader (an 8-9 year old) on the train or bus unescorted by their parent? I wasn't allowed to take the train/bus by myself until I started the 9th grade.  The irony of this is - if I left an 8 year old home alone and the DOE or any one else found out about it, I may have children's services knocking at my door.


Either way, a metro card isn't really going to help me. 


The DOE will also offer reimbursement to parents driving their kids to school or taking a car service - after filling out a form, of course.


Many kids in the public school system are working class families, single parents, parents of with multiple children, families who are working to simply get by. Families who do not have the flexibility in their jobs to take time off or work from home. Families who do not have cars or have the room in their budget to pay for car service (especially if the strike lasts for more than a few days). And let's be for real, it's the DOE - it could take months for reimbursement. 


The Boy's been on a school bus since he was two years old. It isn't easy putting your kid on a school bus, sending them off with strangers hoping they will keep them safe. Especially when you have a child with special needs and they don't have the capacity to tell you about their day to day events. The bus drivers and matrons are absolutely critical to families like mine and they deserved to be treated as such. But the Department of Education and The Office of Pupil Transportation are two different entities who I wished spent more time working together. Because there's too much red tape involved and our kids are all tangled up in it.     
So what will we do if there really is a strike? Here are the options -  


Option #1: I'll take a vacation days, stay home with The Boy and try to keep him busy. 


Option #2: Take vacation days and take him up to school via public transportation (car service is not an option for me can't afford it - especially if this lasts for a few days). Public transportation requires a bus, the metro north train and a cab from the station to the school. It will take about 2.5 hours. Going back home or even to work would be a waste of time and money because The Boy will still need to get home. I may need to just set myself up in the parents lounge... 


Option #3: Go to work, keep him home with a babysitter - I'll have to pay extra for that too. 


Either way, The Boy will be missing out on something and his entire routine will be disrupted.
The whole thing is sort of freaking me out. And I'm really hoping that all can be resolved between now and Wednesday.  

Sunday, January 13, 2013

#BlickARA Twitter Party to Raise Money for School Art Materials



I have yet to write a post about The Boy's current school but it's truly a special place. And I'm excited to be a part of this program to help the teachers at The Boy's school raise money for art materials. Art is critical for all students - especially kids with special needs. They help imagination, fine motor skills, planning, socialization and so much more. But supplies can get expensive and budgets are constantly being cut. Too often, teachers are digging into their own pockets to purchase the supplies they need. And this is where Blick Art Materials wants to help.  

#BlickARA Twitter party details


What: Do you believe art is an essential part of your child's education? Then you already know how important art education is — and how schools are struggling to keep their art programs alive. That's where Art Room Aid can help! A program of Blick Art Materials, Art Room Aid is helping teachers across the country enlist the aid of parents, families, friends, and other art advocates to fund their art projects and keep creative learning going.  

Interested in learning more? Join this Twitter Party to find out how you can support art education, make sure art continues to play a role in your children’s lives, and spread the word about Art Room Aid in your community. We'll be discussing projects you can do with your own kids, and sharing sources of inspiration.

When: Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2 p.m. ET

Where: We’ll be on Twitter – follow the #BlickARA hashtag to track the conversation. See this Twtvite for more info and to RSVP: http://twtvite.com/BlickARA

Hashtag: #BlickARA

Prizes: We will give away five total prizes - two $25 Blick gift coupons, two $50 Blick gift coupons, and one $75 Blick gift coupon.

Hosts: @theMotherhood, @CooperMunroe, @EmilyMcKhann

Check out Art Room Aid here: http://www.dickblick.com/ara

Blick Art Materials website: http://www.dickblick.com/


Disclosure: This is a compensated post sponsored by The Motherhood and Blick Art Materials. All opinions are my own.

Monday, January 7, 2013

What 4am At Our Home Looks Like

It's 4:49 am. And we've been up since 3:55. It's Monday. So today should be really fun.

Some morning when The Boy wakes this early, I lay in bed with one eye open. And when the alarm goes off at 5 am, I put the snooze button to work. This morning, I couldn't do it. 

And like the saying experienced moms like to tell new moms, "Sleep when the baby sleeps" - I wake when The Boy wakes. 

I've washed last night's dishes. I took these snazzy pictures & tweaked them on my iPhone. And now I'm going to have a cup of coffee while I put the final touches on an article that's due later today.

So what does 4am look like in our place?  

Coffee waiting to be brewed. Dishes in sink waiting to be washed.
Laptop open & ready to go.


And while I washing the dishes this is what The Boy was doing! 

And as I'm typing this, the Boy sits beside me. Puts his hand on my shoulder and says, "Hey Momma. What's up?" and then kisses my cheek. And maybe just maybe I swooned a little bit.

Happy Monday!


Sunday, January 6, 2013

plai Theatre | Performers Linked by Able Imaginations



When you have a child with special needs, it's tough to find affordable recreational programs. And for some special needs children, inclusion is difficult because they are often the exception. So when I heard about plai theatre (a non profit arts service organization), I was eager to learn more. We attended a workshop back in October and while The Boy had some challenges being in a new environment, the staff was patient and attentive. And what I really appreciated was the schedule they made to help the kids along.


plai stands for Performers Linked by Able Imaginations.  In this time of senseless violence, let's enable ourselves to create, rather than destroy, for in the act of artistic creation, a person is whole and sane.  plai theatre has a staff of professional artists, educators, and creative arts therapists to empower people who are developmentally, and/or cognitively, and/or physically challenged, by turning them on to their own creative gifts. plai theatre has already held some fun and tranformative workshops for children and for teens, and now  we're ready for more programming in 2013.
  • The Adult Ensemble, unlike any other in New York City, provides performance opportunities and socialization time for adults with special needs.  Will you help support that program?
  • Our Adolescent Ensemble will be bringing after school and weekend programming for adolescents between 13 - 24 with special needs a safe and welcoming place to socialize, use their imagination and speak their minds.  Will you help support this program?
  • Our one day workshops will bring fun theatre activities to families and children with special needs.  Ranging from themes of "Helping Hands", "Anger Monsters", and "Move through the Goo" - these workshops work to build relationships between family members and peers with special needs by using Theatre Professionals and Creative Arts Therapists.  Will you help support these workshops?

To register for an upcoming event register here - 
http://www.plai-theatre.org/classes_and_courses.html 

Disclosure: I am a member of the Board. All opinions are my own and receive no compensation.