I have a confession to make – I’m not a joiner. I’ve just never really been someone who gets involved - not in the PTA, not in political campaigns, and not even neighborhood causes. For the last 20 years, I’ve stood by apathetically and watched my friend Laura as she got fired up about a cause, organized others to get fired up, and did things in her community. I’ve always admired her for her energy and commitment to the greater good, but it wasn’t for me. I was busy with work and taking care of my family. I told myself, “I have a lot on my plate, and I just don’t have time to do it”. I’ve always been grateful that people like Laura were there to take care of things and to make the world a better place for my family and me. The truth is that I was comfortable with my apathy.
That is until my son Max started at The Mariposa School.
My son Max has been going to Mariposa for 2 years now. He started with no functional communication and now he has close to 50 signs. He is even making up is own signs when he has difficulty using the one’s he know to tell me what he wants. Last night at the pool, Max went up to a woman he didn’t know and signed “sing”. She had been playing and singing a song to her child and Max thought it looked like fun. I wanted to jump up and down and scream to everyone “My child asked for something from someone he doesn’t know!” Realizing that was inappropriate, I just explained to the woman that he was asking her to sing. She smiled and started to sing again. Max splashed. Not everyday is filled with thrills such as this, but many are. Max going to Mariposa has completely changed my family’s life. My little man is truly coming out of the cocoon and I want to shout it from the rooftops “look what he can do!!”
Because of Max’s transformation, I want other children to have the chance to come to Mariposa and come out of their cocoons. We have had been so fortunate because we have a generous family member who helps us send Max to this wonderful school. We could not do this without her help. I know that there are other families who are fortunate like mine, but there are many more who are not. That is why raising money for The Mariposa School has become one of the most important things to me. I am committed to helping this school grow and to making it possible for all children to benefit.
Good-bye apathy!
So now that I’m fired up, the next step (based on watching what my friend has always done) is to get other people fired up. That is where you come in. There are many opportunities, both large and small, to help raise money for The Mariposa School. Even if you have limited time, we can find something for you to do. Together, we can meet this initial challenge to raise $100,000 by December 1. After that, the sky is the limit!
My son Max has been going to Mariposa for 2 years now. He started with no functional communication and now he has close to 50 signs. He is even making up is own signs when he has difficulty using the one’s he know to tell me what he wants. Last night at the pool, Max went up to a woman he didn’t know and signed “sing”. She had been playing and singing a song to her child and Max thought it looked like fun. I wanted to jump up and down and scream to everyone “My child asked for something from someone he doesn’t know!” Realizing that was inappropriate, I just explained to the woman that he was asking her to sing. She smiled and started to sing again. Max splashed. Not everyday is filled with thrills such as this, but many are. Max going to Mariposa has completely changed my family’s life. My little man is truly coming out of the cocoon and I want to shout it from the rooftops “look what he can do!!”
Because of Max’s transformation, I want other children to have the chance to come to Mariposa and come out of their cocoons. We have had been so fortunate because we have a generous family member who helps us send Max to this wonderful school. We could not do this without her help. I know that there are other families who are fortunate like mine, but there are many more who are not. That is why raising money for The Mariposa School has become one of the most important things to me. I am committed to helping this school grow and to making it possible for all children to benefit.
Good-bye apathy!
So now that I’m fired up, the next step (based on watching what my friend has always done) is to get other people fired up. That is where you come in. There are many opportunities, both large and small, to help raise money for The Mariposa School. Even if you have limited time, we can find something for you to do. Together, we can meet this initial challenge to raise $100,000 by December 1. After that, the sky is the limit!
Article contributed by: Laura Fish-Hall
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2 comments:
Laura, I love your comment about Max asking the woman at the pool to sing. Other people don't really understand the small victories we have every day. This past weekend Andy had his 6th birthday party. It was the FIRST time we have ever sang Happy Birthday to him and have him blow out his candle. I was so incredibly proud of him at that moment. This is a long way from him screaming and crying because he is overwhelmed from everyone singing at other kids parties, and us having to go outside or to the bathroom to get away from the noise. I have learned to celebrate the little victories every day.
Sherry
I'm glad you liked it Sherry. I would say that Andy actually enjoyed the singing! It was really amazing when he blew out the candle and then asked to do it again. Happy to you Andy! That was a great gift for everyone else in the room
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