prom 2013

our children

"It’s not our job to toughen our children up to face a cruel and heartless world. It’s our job to raise children who will make the world a little less cruel and heartless." -- L.R.Knost

coffee with Ben

There are a lot of good reasons to attend conferences, symposiums, and workshops.  Obvious reasons include continuing education, exposure to new ideas, exchanging stories, and affirmation of ideas.  Another good reason is seeing other therapists that I may only see once or twice a year. . . friends from college and past co-workers.

Another good reason to attend symposiums in Fargo is coffee with Ben.  After the first night of the symposium, I met Ben for supper. . . and then a drive. . .  and then coffee.  We shared a lemon tart in an adorable pastry shop downtown.  Being in his presence just makes me happy.  He is my son.  He is also a thoughtful and intuitive soul.  Conversations with Ben are meaningful and layered.  They often take time to unfold and are complex.  And we had time. . . and we took our time. . . and we talked. . . and we sat in silence. . . and we talked. . .  and we soaked up the energy created by the beauty of our surroundings and our conversation.

Being in his presence just makes me happy.

Asperger's

I just returned from a conference in Moorhead on social thinking.  This video was presented and I made sure I tracked it down when I got home so I could watch it again.   It's a short clip of a boy with Asperger's interviewing his mother.  It's a real interview and part of a series of videos, "StoryCorps", produced by NPR.   It's wonderful.