Still drinking coffee. Still eating muffins. The faint start of a smirk appearing at the corners of my mouth. The irony of our recent "Zen" experience. (It will be funny one day. I will recognize it as a gift).
Did I mention? We had a couple of hours to kill before arriving at the retreat, so we went to a hands-on children's museum in Asheville. Riley had a ball. She was very brave. Some exhibits initially scared her, but she tried every single thing.
Out of all the kids there, who do you suppose a photographer picked to photograph for a brochure? That's right. My girl stood there in a hard hat and an orange vest, posing for the camera like she'd done it all her life. (At three, she ran from cameras, shrieking because the flash was too bright).
This whole experience has reinforced how desperately Riley needs a school where social skills are taught as part of the curriculum. Social skills are as important for this child as math or science or English. Yesterday I was researching, and came across what looks like a great school....in NYC.
Speaking of irony?
About Me
- Michelle O'Neil
- I've written for Literary Mama,The Imperfect Parent,Cool Cleveland,The Mad as Hell Club and the anthologies pictured below. I'm also a contributor to Hopeful Parents. In recent former lives, I worked in radio news and as a registered nurse. I blog about one Hot Toddy,two great kiddos,spirituality, autism and whatever else tickles me. Our daughter Riley is nine and has Asperger's,our son Seth is seven. Thanks for stopping! Make yourself at home.
Anthologies I've contributed to:
Countdown to Riley's Service Dog
I support gay marriage
Blog Roll
- 4 Paws for Ability
- 4 Paws for Kheira
- Author Mom With Dogs
- Carnal Zen
- Changing Trains
- Charlie the North Star Dog
- Courtney Sheinmel
- Creative Ink
- DC IMPACT
- Drama Mama
- Fully Caffeinated
- GMO-FREE SHOPPING GUIDE
- Healing and Preventing Autism
- Hopeful Parents
- Identity Crisis
- Incipient Turvy
- Indiebound.org
- Jennifer Lauck
- Jess Wilson
- Kario
- Kim Stagliano
- Laura Goodin
- Lend 4 Health
- Lessons from Liberty
- Lisa Romeo
- Literary Mama
- Look Me In The Eye
- Mad As Hell Club
- MB12
- Mercurious
- Normal Films
- Pixie Mama
- Real(tor) Thoughts
- Reflections on the Pond
- Roughly Speaking
- Teachings of Abraham
- TED Talks
- Teen Autism
- The Believing Soul
- The Daily Puppy
- The Pioneer Woman
- This Mom
- Working With Words
- Writer Unboxed
11 comments:
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Sorry that the retreat wasn't what you expected, but it sounds like what you needed to reinforce what you are looking for in a school for Riley. So glad you found your own little piece of Zen at home yesterday with your kiddos and your coffee! :)
So maybe you'll rethink my city now . . . there are very nice public restrooms in hotels and stores, Central Park has a carousel and zoo (no offense to your backyard, but I bet it doesn't), and most of my friends are New Yorkers and they are fantastic!
Yes Courtney, wouldn't that be hysterical?
I'd probably end up head over heels in love with it.
P.S. I didn't think much of Hot Toddy at first either.
Michelle, have I ever told you how much you and your writing and the living example you set each day mean to me?
If not, let me do it now: lots and lots. Tons. Heaps. Huge, big bunches. Gibbety gobs. More than words can express.
I heart you. I heart Riley's bravery with the camera. I heart your caffeine-and-muffin induced Zen. I heart your willingness to brave any and all things for your child.
I love Asheville. Maybe I should go to the children's museum. I don't suppose they'd take my picture.
I want you to "heart" Portland! We're all that and a bag of chips! Plus, we have blue twos! (See my blog.)
love.
Sorry to hear about the retreat, but really, Children and Zen Retreat really don't go together. I love your energy to try it out -very brave - very courageous-very loving. Love the mental Health day, too. I hope you all are doing well and would love to see that photo of Riley in the hard hat, can you get a copy?
Ahhh, The Health Adventure! Great place. If you all do decide to move here, there are some great schools that emphasize social skills at the PK level. My son's in one this year that focuses on social interaction, expressing feelings, communicating, sharing--the stuff that most of us need to learn, but if we don't get it by Kindergarten, it often doesn't happen!
Tha lady who took it said she'd e-mail me a copy, but I have not recieved anything yet.
Aw. Will you get one of the brochures to post? I bet she looked cute!
:)
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