Posts

10.28.2010

Dear Autism

Dear Autism,
       There are a few things I have been meaning to say to you for awhile and I think there is no time like the present to let it out. You see, when I was in 6th grade many years ago I did a science project on you. Back then (early 90's) people didn't know a whole lot about you and you were referred to as childhood schizophrenia. Crazy, huh? Fast forward a decade or two and it turns out I spend most of my daylight hours battling you, and yes, marveling at you. Fighting for my students, trying to unlock them from your grasp.

       I see you every day in the eyes of my students. And the reflection of you in their families.
      And I have to tell you, I am not happy about it.
      You change people's lives.
      You change parent's dreams. You know, the ones where they dreamed of family vacations and soccer games and conversations with their child. Often times, these dreams are replaced with dreams of new therapies and hopes of conversation become hopes for functional communication. And instead of cheering at baseball games, they are fighting for the rights of their children. That doesn't really seem fair.
     
        Forgive me, Autism, but you suck.
   
       And yet, you do have a few redeeming qualities.

       I may be biased, but I think my students are awesome and that in some ways they are far more fortunate than the rest of us. They are so passionate about the things they find joy in. They live in the moment. They don't hold grudges, they rarely lie and they don't waste time doing things they don't really want to be doing. Many have brilliant minds, they see things for how they really are. They love unconditionally and they certainly enjoy life. They work harder than many people I know. They live the definition of an authentic life.
      I will not fault you on those qualities, for they are gifts. But please, for the love of all things good, release the chokehold you possess.

Let our kids sleep.
Let them tell us what they need.
Let them have meaningful social experiences.
Let them just be kids.

      I understand that this is asking a lot, but won't you see what you can do? In the meantime we will continue to celebrate our children and their amazing gifts. Cheering their successes and helping them navigate their challenges, and loving them the whole way through. Searching for the answers to the secrets you hold.

     If you think that is too much to ask, then please at least consider making yourself less elusive so that our children can be understood and accepted for the incredible beings that they are.

    Thanks for letting me vent. Now get about releasing that secret. Please.

                                                                                                                            Sincerely,
                                                                                                                             Melissa


To learn more about autism, please visit Autism Speaks

10.26.2010

a relationship in numbers

Five Years 

In 5 years we've had a lot of numbers. 

8 Christmas trees decorated. Remember when we used to decorate two per year. One at my apartment and one at yours?

7 airplane trips. I used to squeeze your hand so tight when taking off and landing.

6 graduations. We survived grad school!
 
1 romantic first anniversary dinner overlooking Boston (which I unfortunately, ahem..."redeposited" later that evening).

5 spoooooooky dinners.

8 weddings attended. 

2 ski trips. 

1 sunrise canoe ride after a very eventful night on the cape. 

3 trips to Bermuda. 

2 awesome cats. 

2 trips to the hospital. One each.

8 baseball games. (that I can remember)

0 days without talking to each other. 

1 sailing lesson. 

10 birthday cakes. You make the best.

1 evening ice skating on Frog Pond. 

3 fall getaways. 

1 home purchase. 

about 100 kitchen dances.
4 St. Patrick day celebrations.

4 summers on the Cape.

2 black friday trips after Thanksgiving dinner.

100's of evening walks. 

5 moves (combined).

2 deaths. 

8 babies born. 

1000's of skipped heartbeats. 

Countless smiles and laughs.
Immeasurable love.


10.25.2010

it's coooooming.....

Halloween is in exactly 6 days and I am EXCITED because this year we might have some trick-o-treaters! Our new neighborhood is swarming with kiddos and I can't wait to see them all dressed up! (It's probably weird to take pictures of them for a scrapbook page though, huh? Don't want people to think we're the creepy people...hehe) 

Aside from seeing the cute little kids all dressed up and watching Charlie Brown with a cup of cocoa and some popcorn the things I look forward to most is Spoooooky dinner. 
What is spooooky dinner you ask? 
Well, it is just a little tradition that mmb and I have every year where I cook a "scary" dinner. In years past the menu has included such things as corpse loaf (aka meatloaf in the shape of a body), witches fingers (breadsticks with almond "fingernails"), vampire's blood soup with cobwebs (tomato soup with cheddar crisps). Gross stuff, but funny. 

The menu hasn't been planned yet, but will be soon! 


Can't wait to cook it, eat it, and of course...scrap it ;-)

10.24.2010

I'm in.

Can I possibly put one more thing on my plate?
No seriously. I kind of feel lke if I take on one more thing to do right now that my head might explode. 
But lo and behold, this morning as I am laying in bed, trying to muster up the energy to go pick up a paintbrush, I find this little gem in my inbox...and against my better judgment I open it.



Before you know it, the first two emails in my inbox are titled
"Thanks for your payment to shimelle.com"
and
"Welcome to True Stories"

Wait...what?! How did that happen??

Next thought in my head:
"Are you crazy, girl?"

But here's the thing. Well first of all, Shimelle's classes are not only super inspiring, but they are go-at-your-own-pace. As in, maybe I will do one today, maybe I'll do one in two weeks. There is no crunch to get them in on time and that is so important right now.

I just didn't see how I could pass up this opportunity.
I miss creating. I miss blogging.
I miss telling my stories.
I love my mac, but I am a sucker for picking up a pen and piece of paper.

I want need to get back to basics.
I need a little more simplicity right now.

Although taking one more thing on my plate should be making my head explode (as mentioned above), signing up for this course has actually created a sense of calm. It's like all of the thoughts in my mind just found out that their time off request has been approved and they can breathe a little easier. So start packing up, thoughts and stories, you're about to take a little trip. Onto paper.

And yes, I could use that right now.

What do you think? Will you join too?

10.07.2010

scraproom inspiration

Just a few pics that have been inspiring me for my soon-to-be craft room...