It's been a while since I've written on this blog. That's because Marisa has been so sad all year about not going back to camp for her 9th summer. In fact she was hoping to go back next year too, so she could celebrate her 10th anniversary at Camp Northwood. Unfortunately, that will not happen, because Marisa has aged out of camp.This does happen to all our children. It even happened to many of us if we were lucky enough to even be campers once upon a time. But it's the 10th anniversary thing that sets Marisa apart from the typical kid who's just sad about not going back to camp.
"I missed out going when I was 12," Marisa said so many times this past year. "I wasn't ready at 12."
That was true. Marisa wasn't ready to go to sleep away camp, because we weren't sure that her behavior would be controlled enough for her to have a successful summer. So we waited till she was 14. Now Marisa is 22 and she will tell anyone who asks that she missed her 10 year anniversary at Camp Northwood, because she wasn't ready at 12.
So this year has been a true transition year for Marisa. She graduated from school last June and has had a full year out of the school setting. Don't get me wrong. It has been a spectacular year! Marisa has two jobs that she loves, has joined Special Olympics, joined a number of recreation groups where she's made many new friends, continued to pursue her interests in nutrition, exercise and fashion and has joined a gym and taken aerobics on a college campus. All this has been part of her Self Determination Program funded by New York State's Consolidated Supports and Services Program. Marisa has grown by leaps and bounds.
The year came to an end, with our annual birthday celebration for Marisa. She celebrated her 22 birthday with 32 of her friends at our home with a DJ and dinner. But when all was done, she was still sad about missing the approaching day to catch the camp bus in NYC.
What was I to do?
Well, it finally struck me! I don't know why it took me so long to figure this out. So many of our kids are visual and need to be able to see what is ahead of them, rather than just having a verbal reminder of all the wonderful things to come over the next few months.
"That's it!" I said to Marisa on the evening of June 30, the night before the campers were to meet the bus in NYC at 8 AM. "I'm going to list every day of the summer, so you can see what's on the schedule. And for any blank days that remain, you will have to fill in some date or activity."
For some reason, the calendar wasn't having that effect, so then and there I started to write. Marisa stood over me watching with curiosity and anticipation. As I wrote she could see the days were filled ... not just with work but with all the trips that were planned and all the upcoming parties and dates she scheduled with friends. She then took the list and recorded the events on her own calendar in her bedroom.
We also, signed up to view the camp pictures where she would be able to see some of her friends that were still able to attend. She could write to them and print out pictures to send them of themselves at camp.
"Not only will you have an all new summer, but you're also going to be able to continue to work at your jobs and earn your own money," I reminded her.
"I have a new summer!" she finally said with surprise and excitement in her voice.
"It will be an all new adventure," I said, "because each day is going to be different from the last and you have not only 8 trips with your recreation groups, but trips with your family as well."
Now how can one remain sad, when there's so many things to look forward to! July is almost over now and it's been a joy!
"I missed out going when I was 12," Marisa said so many times this past year. "I wasn't ready at 12."
That was true. Marisa wasn't ready to go to sleep away camp, because we weren't sure that her behavior would be controlled enough for her to have a successful summer. So we waited till she was 14. Now Marisa is 22 and she will tell anyone who asks that she missed her 10 year anniversary at Camp Northwood, because she wasn't ready at 12.
So this year has been a true transition year for Marisa. She graduated from school last June and has had a full year out of the school setting. Don't get me wrong. It has been a spectacular year! Marisa has two jobs that she loves, has joined Special Olympics, joined a number of recreation groups where she's made many new friends, continued to pursue her interests in nutrition, exercise and fashion and has joined a gym and taken aerobics on a college campus. All this has been part of her Self Determination Program funded by New York State's Consolidated Supports and Services Program. Marisa has grown by leaps and bounds.
The year came to an end, with our annual birthday celebration for Marisa. She celebrated her 22 birthday with 32 of her friends at our home with a DJ and dinner. But when all was done, she was still sad about missing the approaching day to catch the camp bus in NYC.
What was I to do?
Well, it finally struck me! I don't know why it took me so long to figure this out. So many of our kids are visual and need to be able to see what is ahead of them, rather than just having a verbal reminder of all the wonderful things to come over the next few months.
"That's it!" I said to Marisa on the evening of June 30, the night before the campers were to meet the bus in NYC at 8 AM. "I'm going to list every day of the summer, so you can see what's on the schedule. And for any blank days that remain, you will have to fill in some date or activity."
For some reason, the calendar wasn't having that effect, so then and there I started to write. Marisa stood over me watching with curiosity and anticipation. As I wrote she could see the days were filled ... not just with work but with all the trips that were planned and all the upcoming parties and dates she scheduled with friends. She then took the list and recorded the events on her own calendar in her bedroom.
We also, signed up to view the camp pictures where she would be able to see some of her friends that were still able to attend. She could write to them and print out pictures to send them of themselves at camp.
"Not only will you have an all new summer, but you're also going to be able to continue to work at your jobs and earn your own money," I reminded her.
"I have a new summer!" she finally said with surprise and excitement in her voice.
"It will be an all new adventure," I said, "because each day is going to be different from the last and you have not only 8 trips with your recreation groups, but trips with your family as well."
Now how can one remain sad, when there's so many things to look forward to! July is almost over now and it's been a joy!
