The fixation on fixing things
For many families who are impacted by disability it is easy to spend time and energy (and of course, money) focusing on all that needs to be “fixed”. The fixation on fixing things can leave us exhausted and drained of emotions, energy and resources. At this time of year we have an opportunity to spend a little time thinking about what we are thankful for.
Looking for things to be thankful for
Looking for things to be thankful for is a great exercise for all of us. On a “good” day it’s pretty easy, but on a “bad” day it may take some creativity. Finding reasons to be grateful and to appreciate the ordinary things in our everyday lives can help us all to be in a better place.
Things I am grateful for:
- I am grateful for slip-on shoes and Velcro, because my son has never been able to tie his own shoes
- I am grateful for the internet that allows me to feel connected to my friends, family and community even when I can’t get out of the house. Continue reading An Attitude of Gratitude
As a parent of a young adult with autism, I don’t scare easily. With Halloween just around the corner I find myself thinking again about this annual holiday ritual.
Amy Chua’s Wall Street Journal-published book excerpt-cum PR move “Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior” certainly got parents talking a couple of weeks ago: How strict is too strict? How hard should we really push our kids? Somewhere in all the noise, there were some special-needs parents asking, “What about my kid? She isn’t ever going to play at Carnegie Hall, no matter how hard she practices.” Ms. Chua had her answer ready: her sister with Down’s was in the Special Olympics, so even in the world of disabilities, it’s possible to excel if you only work hard enough.
