It's so simple, really. I took the kids that I nanny to the library to sign them up for the summer reading program, thrilled that both have a love of reading and honored to foster the joy of reading. The way their program works is the child gets rewarded for time spent reading. To mark this, you get to put different beads onto a necklace. The beads represent units of time, and each bead gets bigger and better with each increment. The 15-minute beads are small and basic; the 4-hour beads are large and animal shaped, etc. I took this to mean, for example, you could choose 4, 15-minute beads or 1, 1-hour bead, and that was that. However, the librarian explained to the kids that if they decided they wanted to trade in, say, 4 small beads for the one-hour bead, that was fine. All summer long, they could trade beads as their minds and tastes changed. As this trivial information hit me, I reflexively flinched, thinking about how this whole scenario would have gone in my...
"I don't know what it is like to not have deep emotions. Even when I feel nothing, I feel it completely." -Sylvia Plath It's the nauseously repeated story of I can't keep up because I'm autistic. It's the shock at the accusal that I care about shit that doesn't matter. It's the putting on a fake smile because not showing my best side at all times leads to fights. Dismissals. It's the probably stupid at this juncture in my life shock (should all that be hyphenated?) of trying so hard and putting in so much effort that no one appreciates. What did I expect? I put my heart and soul into a job, and it's either ignored or exploited, or I'm told point-blank that it doesn't matter. And people get mad that I feel bad for doing something for naught. Why am I the bad guy here? I love the Twilight Zone, but I didn't want to live in the fucking thing! It's what feels like a noose, the constant constant of being misunderstood. I expla...
During the height of the insanity of 2020, my best friend began the process of buying a church built in the 1830's and turning it into a non-profit arts center. And this was after having twins and already being a mom to two other children. I've been best friends with Abby since we were sophomores in high school and initially bonded over loathing gym class and trying to hide from the insufferable teacher we were cursed with. We've been bonded together ever since, almost 20 years. After a lot of back and forth and research and education and paperwork Abby has launched the New Dawn Arts Center in her town. Their website is up, they have a Facebook page, and soon they'll be starting a summer camp for children. To say I'm impressed with all that she's done and accomplished, especially in the most insane time imaginable, is a gross understatement. To watch someone you love and admire accomplish their dream and start a legacy is rare treat. I am so incredibly proud. C...
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