It Not Easy Bein "Me"Written by Diane Drayer
When I hear popular children’s song, “It’s Not Easy Bein’ Green,” sung by lovable character, Kermit Frog (a.k.a, Jim Henson), my heart hears instead, “It’s Not Easy Bein’ Me.” My thoughts turn to my son, Dustin and many children with disabilities who are often shunned by their fellow classmates and peers.Kermit sings, “It seems you blend in with so many other ordinary things and people tend to pass you over cause you’re not standing out like flashy sparkles in water or stars in sky.” Often, our children’s disability interferes with their ability to establish and maintain friendships. As a result, each day is as lonely and isolated as day before. Friendships aren’t developed and our children blend in and go un-noticed; further injuring their feelings of self-worth and putting them at a higher risk for depression and suicide. “But green’s color of spring. And green can be cool and friendly-like. And green can be big like an ocean or important like a mountain or tall like a tree,” resounds Kermit. Can’t each of us say this about our children? That each can be cool and friendly, have a heart wide as an ocean, important like a mountain and certainly tall in spirit like a tree.
| | Fleeting GiftsWritten by Arleen M. Kaptur
During a recent visit to a toy store looking for perfect gift for a child, insight I received gave me a very rude awakening. A child is born with all kinds of gifts tucked right in there with cute little smile and tiny toes and fingers. There is creativity, inspiration, imagination, and fun. It is all right there - just waiting to be encouraged, and allowed to grow and mature. What really happens when family and friends lavish gifts of latest toy trends and gift ideas that toy manufacturers insist are "in" thing? These precious and fleeting gifts are not nurtured and give "food" they need to become basis for future careers, jobs, and lifestyles. Instead, they allow child to be a bystander and "watch world go by" - but not become a "mover and shaker" of what is going on. In other words, script, cast, and everything in between has been scheduled, programmed, and packed - all in one box. Children are future of each and every one of us - they will be doctors, lawyers, judges, politicians, cooks, clerks, parents, citizens, etc. No one is so isolated that they will not be affected by decisions and actions of these children when they become adults. You can run, but you can't hide from what future will bring - and from those who will bring it about - today's children. While a child may whine and cry for very latest in what ads show as "craze" of times, you are purchaser, or main ingredient in child oy experience. Maybe making a total about-fact is not a reasonable choice for you and your child, but seek out a few alternatives. If you buy a "pre-programmed" action figure, vehicle, or play set, offset it with a few "standard" items. Lincoln logs can still fascinate, art sets (whether clay, paint, or pencil) can nudge that creativity, or games that allow child to think, react, and plan. Books, craft kits and building blocks of all sizes, shapes, and forms, give hours of pleasure and allow child to become "programmer", not "bystander."
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