At the risk of beating this horse beyond recognition, I'm going to venture up on to my soapbox one more time to discuss the importance of this topic, but perhaps not for reasons you might think.
I get extremely uneasy when people say things like, 'You're an amazing parent', or 'You guys are super heroes'. Fact is, I'm flawed. I struggle daily to maintain my sanity and continue to champion the causes we all champion because, well, frankly, it's exhausting. It's difficult enough raising kids that don't necessarily face a lot of the same challenges that a special needs child might. When you add that element to the mix, it's like lighting a match to a petroleum plant. Maintaining a healthy balance with work, spouse and family becomes a near impossible task and the day-to-day grind is enough to make you want to curl up in a ball and rock yourself to sleep. So, while family and friends' intentions are always positive and well founded, they aren't always accurate. I'm not a super hero, I'm a parent. Will I use a super heroic determination and strength to support and protect my children? Absolutely; one young man in particular.
By now, most of you who keep up with my postings know about Makenley and the challenges he faces each day from the time he wakes up, goes to school and back, then right up to the point he falls asleep. He is a stubborn, charismatic, loving, impulsive, humorous and intelligent individual and he is going through a difficult transitional period right now. With the onset of puberty and an awareness that coincides with this fascinating element of adolescence, comes a certain degree of uncertainty and confusion. It's difficult to find balance between peer interaction, the pressures this evolution can invite, scholastic initiative and the essential role each facet plays in one's personal development. When you include the internal demons that invade the little bodies of a special needs child, everything from wanting to be normal physically, to the nagging desire to fit in emotionally, it can, at times, be too much to bear. After the latest rounds of emotional instability, I found myself searching for something, anything that could ease this heavy load from my amazing son's shoulders; anything that could take his mind off the turmoil he was facing each day, and bring him a bit of peace and happiness. The funny thing about this period of time in particular, is, each day he would come home talking about how he needed these box tops. Day after day, "Dad, did you get any box tops today?" When I responded each time with a negative response, or anything other than that which he wanted to hear, I got sighs, groans and even a few monumental tantrums. All over these stupid box tops. Then he explained it to me. And it made sense. His school, like so many others, uses the box tops for education program as a means to help raise funds, and provide other ancillary supports for the enhancement of the students that attend there. This is a fundraising effort he was excited about and wanted to participate in, and that was good enough for me. If he can find a particular passion in a program like this, who am I to dissuade him? The problem for him is, me being me, I couldn't let it go at that. I decided that this effort could provide a wonderful, legitimate platform to accomplish a couple of important goals, all within the parameters of this one, simple, established program. We can use this initiative as a means to support him in his efforts to do well for the school and show solidarity for his other prevalent issue of late, bullying.
Could there be a more perfect way for strangers, united in a national struggle to lift the spirits of one young man, to interact than to clip out a cardboard box top, put it in an envelope with a 'forever' stamp and mail it to his home, or school? I mean, we all eat, right? And I would venture to say nearly everyone reading this posting has a box of cereal, or other dry boxed goods, containing one of these box tops. I understand a certain faction will reply by saying, 'Yes, but my children use the program too and I feel a need to support them'. Great. You're acting in their best interest, as any parent would do. But I'm not asking anyone to forgo their obligations locally. I'm saying, send 1, or 5, or 10 to support this cause and communicate to our society that this behavior is not tolerable, we recognize the issue at hand and we are determined to make a difference. And you know what? You may just have, living under your roof, a selfless, compassionate little guy, or girl, who understands what this young man is going through and can empathize in a way we are not capable of empathizing as adults, and volunteers their own collection, as at least one child of a supportive parent has done for Makenley.
It's an issue we're all aware of, all support and most remain silent about, because either a) it hasn't affected us personally, or b) it's a taboo subject and we want to believe in the best in people, that people are incapable of such behaviors and thus, choose not to act. The great thing about what I'm proposing here is, you can still show the same degree of support, but you get to do it anonymously.
You don't have to have children to participate. You don't even have to like children. All you need is a core belief that the act of bullying is inexcusable, and a willingness to go to your mailbox. We all have friends (well, most of us), relatives, co-workers, organizations, clubs, churches and the like that we can draw from, gain encouragement from, brainstorm with and who are eager to a-f-f-e-c-t change. We have youth groups and pep bands, and athletic organizations in our schools who already give so much, so unselfishly. Use these people. Recognize the potential in each of us to do better; to reach out when someone needs a certain degree of support, lift them up and show the world they are special. They are all special. You don't even have to live in is country to have an impact. You just have to have a heart, a compassionate soul and a little bit of drive, literally and figuratively.
I encourage you all, all over the country and globally, to support this effort, this movement. Help me obtain my personal stated goal of overwhelming our school and community with this worthwhile cause. The children are crying out. They need our help. They deserve our action. Take a minute and share this information on your social networking sites, or email, or whatever means you choose and get people involved. It time for real change. It's time to realize, even one more lost soul is one too many. It's time to change the system.
Anyone wishing to contribute can reach me privately for our home address, or you can simply mail your 'box tops for education' box tops to:
Makenley Deuschle
C/O Robey Elementary
8700 W. 30th St.
Indianapolis, In. 46234
Feel free to include a note of support and encouragement and force our administrators to acknowledge and recognize, we are aware of how real this issue has become and we won't be satisfied until it has been eliminated as a threat to the well being of our children.
Until tomorrow,
Scott
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