my daughter Maddie’s graduating this year and what we’re hearing from her on
year and what we’re hearing from her on
year and what we’re hearing from her on a regular basis is it’s my grad year
a regular basis is it’s my grad year
a regular basis is it’s my grad year it’s my grand year she was determined to
it’s my grand year she was determined to
it’s my grand year she was determined to buy herself a grad ring so she saved her
buy herself a grad ring so she saved her
buy herself a grad ring so she saved her money made the purchase and then ex off
money made the purchase and then ex off
money made the purchase and then ex off on the calendar the six week mark when
on the calendar the six week mark when
on the calendar the six week mark when the ring was supposed to be delivered
the ring was supposed to be delivered
the ring was supposed to be delivered between week six and seven we heard
between week six and seven we heard
between week six and seven we heard things like where’s my ring when is it
things like where’s my ring when is it
things like where’s my ring when is it coming why isn’t it here did they lose
coming why isn’t it here did they lose
coming why isn’t it here did they lose it did you check the mail finally at
it did you check the mail finally at
it did you check the mail finally at week seven it arrived I don’t know what
week seven it arrived I don’t know what
week seven it arrived I don’t know what we would have done if it had taken
we would have done if it had taken
we would have done if it had taken longer than seven weeks she bought her
longer than seven weeks she bought her
longer than seven weeks she bought her grad dress
grad dress
grad dress we tried on about 18 of them every dress
we tried on about 18 of them every dress
we tried on about 18 of them every dress was the perfect dress she’s now trying
was the perfect dress she’s now trying
was the perfect dress she’s now trying to decide who to go to the banquet with
to decide who to go to the banquet with
to decide who to go to the banquet with will she go with the boy or a boy she’s
will she go with the boy or a boy she’s
will she go with the boy or a boy she’s consumed with all things graduation of
consumed with all things graduation of
consumed with all things graduation of course along with graduation we’re
course along with graduation we’re
course along with graduation we’re experiencing moments of teenage
experiencing moments of teenage
experiencing moments of teenage rebellion I see some of you have
rebellion I see some of you have
rebellion I see some of you have teenagers instead of typical teenage
teenagers instead of typical teenage
teenagers instead of typical teenage rebellion such as staying out late
rebellion such as staying out late
rebellion such as staying out late drinking talking back my daughter does
drinking talking back my daughter does
drinking talking back my daughter does things like take her shoes and socks off
things like take her shoes and socks off
things like take her shoes and socks off go stand in the snow for ten minutes
go stand in the snow for ten minutes
go stand in the snow for ten minutes just to see what it feels like knowing
just to see what it feels like knowing
just to see what it feels like knowing full well that it would call it caused
full well that it would call it caused
full well that it would call it caused us great stress but this is her level of
us great stress but this is her level of
us great stress but this is her level of rebellion I say her level because she’s
rebellion I say her level because she’s
rebellion I say her level because she’s a person with special needs being a
a person with special needs being a
a person with special needs being a person with special needs can be
person with special needs can be
person with special needs can be exhausting being the parent of a child
exhausting being the parent of a child
exhausting being the parent of a child with special needs can be exhausting in
with special needs can be exhausting in
with special needs can be exhausting in its own way
its own way
its own way I wear the hats of advocate ambassador
I wear the hats of advocate ambassador
I wear the hats of advocate ambassador educator and caregiver because Maddie’s
educator and caregiver because Maddie’s
educator and caregiver because Maddie’s been excluded through things in her life
been excluded through things in her life
been excluded through things in her life I now see the world through the lens of
I now see the world through the lens of
I now see the world through the lens of inclusion for those of you that may have
inclusion for those of you that may have
inclusion for those of you that may have experienced the natural progression of
experienced the natural progression of
experienced the natural progression of child rearing your children go to school
child rearing your children go to school
child rearing your children go to school get a job maybe get married possibly
get a job maybe get married possibly
get a job maybe get married possibly have a family
have a family
have a family there have been choices and options
there have been choices and options
there have been choices and options along the way for my daughter those
along the way for my daughter those
along the way for my daughter those choices and options haven’t always been
choices and options haven’t always been
choices and options haven’t always been a given because she’s been limited by
a given because she’s been limited by
a given because she’s been limited by her labels instead of included by her
her labels instead of included by her
her labels instead of included by her abilities when teenagers go to get their
abilities when teenagers go to get their
abilities when teenagers go to get their driver’s license
driver’s license
driver’s license there’s a gradual system of learning
there’s a gradual system of learning
there’s a gradual system of learning first they take a written test and they
first they take a written test and they
first they take a written test and they get their L and they proudly display
get their L and they proudly display
get their L and they proudly display that on the back of the car and that
that on the back of the car and that
that on the back of the car and that signifies to the rest of us that they’re
signifies to the rest of us that they’re
signifies to the rest of us that they’re learning and they need lots of practice
learning and they need lots of practice
learning and they need lots of practice and they have they’re under adult
and they have they’re under adult
and they have they’re under adult supervision for a year then after a year
supervision for a year then after a year
supervision for a year then after a year they take another test and they get
they take another test and they get
they take another test and they get their IDI at this point they can take a
their IDI at this point they can take a
their IDI at this point they can take a passenger and a little less supervision
passenger and a little less supervision
passenger and a little less supervision it’s not for another two years until
it’s not for another two years until
it’s not for another two years until they become a full fledged unrestricted
they become a full fledged unrestricted
they become a full fledged unrestricted driver
driver
driver this gradual system of support is in
this gradual system of support is in
this gradual system of support is in every drivers best interest we want safe
every drivers best interest we want safe
every drivers best interest we want safe drivers on our roads
drivers on our roads
drivers on our roads this system is inclusive it’s supportive
this system is inclusive it’s supportive
this system is inclusive it’s supportive it encourages practice to become
it encourages practice to become
it encourages practice to become proficient this is the type of system
proficient this is the type of system
proficient this is the type of system that my daughter needs to learn new
that my daughter needs to learn new
that my daughter needs to learn new things in order to truly understand what
things in order to truly understand what
things in order to truly understand what inclusion meant I had to first
inclusion meant I had to first
inclusion meant I had to first understand what its opposite exclusion
understand what its opposite exclusion
understand what its opposite exclusion meant I wondered why are people excluded
meant I wondered why are people excluded
meant I wondered why are people excluded what it came up with is that it’s people
what it came up with is that it’s people
what it came up with is that it’s people who are outside of the norm who are
who are outside of the norm who are
who are outside of the norm who are excluded so then I had to figure out
excluded so then I had to figure out
excluded so then I had to figure out what does normal mean as far as I can
what does normal mean as far as I can
what does normal mean as far as I can tell normal is anything that is typical
tell normal is anything that is typical
tell normal is anything that is typical usual most common normal makes us feel
usual most common normal makes us feel
usual most common normal makes us feel comfortable in our communities we expect
comfortable in our communities we expect
comfortable in our communities we expect certain things to be normal and when
certain things to be normal and when
certain things to be normal and when they’re not
they’re not
they’re not we either shy away from them because of
we either shy away from them because of
we either shy away from them because of discomfort or we learn about them in
discomfort or we learn about them in
discomfort or we learn about them in order to feel comfortable again we
order to feel comfortable again we
order to feel comfortable again we always have these two
always have these two
always have these two choices to leave or to learn to exclude
choices to leave or to learn to exclude
choices to leave or to learn to exclude or to include to the extent that my
or to include to the extent that my
or to include to the extent that my daughter will be included in society she
daughter will be included in society she
daughter will be included in society she will be a contributing member of that
will be a contributing member of that
will be a contributing member of that society just because she can’t do things
society just because she can’t do things
society just because she can’t do things independently doesn’t mean she won’t be
independently doesn’t mean she won’t be
independently doesn’t mean she won’t be a valuable member of society I would
a valuable member of society I would
a valuable member of society I would argue that contribution can mean more
argue that contribution can mean more
argue that contribution can mean more than just money what about the service a
than just money what about the service a
than just money what about the service a person can provide in one of my favorite
person can provide in one of my favorite
person can provide in one of my favorite articles on inclusion entitled the
articles on inclusion entitled the
articles on inclusion entitled the golden rule the author’s suggests that
golden rule the author’s suggests that
golden rule the author’s suggests that inclusive communities promote growth
inclusive communities promote growth
inclusive communities promote growth independence and interactions with peers
independence and interactions with peers
independence and interactions with peers my daughter could be a dog walker a vet
my daughter could be a dog walker a vet
my daughter could be a dog walker a vet assistant a care aide or a recreation
assistant a care aide or a recreation
assistant a care aide or a recreation leader when you take the time to ask her
leader when you take the time to ask her
leader when you take the time to ask her what she’d like to do after graduation
what she’d like to do after graduation
what she’d like to do after graduation she will tell you her three areas of
she will tell you her three areas of
she will tell you her three areas of interest
interest
interest dogs old people and kids if she wants to
dogs old people and kids if she wants to
dogs old people and kids if she wants to give back to the people or dogs that
give back to the people or dogs that
give back to the people or dogs that bring her happiness she should be able
bring her happiness she should be able
bring her happiness she should be able to do so we have never put limits on
to do so we have never put limits on
to do so we have never put limits on what she could be able to do she may
what she could be able to do she may
what she could be able to do she may even surprise us by doing something we
even surprise us by doing something we
even surprise us by doing something we never even thought of
in fact my daughter never knew she was a
in fact my daughter never knew she was a person with special needs until she
person with special needs until she
person with special needs until she learned that in school up until high
learned that in school up until high
learned that in school up until high school she just knew that some things
school she just knew that some things
school she just knew that some things were frustrating and difficult for her
were frustrating and difficult for her
were frustrating and difficult for her and she needed help but we explained
and she needed help but we explained
and she needed help but we explained that her brain works a little bit
that her brain works a little bit
that her brain works a little bit differently than other people and that’s
differently than other people and that’s
differently than other people and that’s okay diversity is a good thing we want
okay diversity is a good thing we want
okay diversity is a good thing we want differences in our world because it
differences in our world because it
differences in our world because it makes the world a more interesting place
makes the world a more interesting place
makes the world a more interesting place sadly when she went to high school she
sadly when she went to high school she
sadly when she went to high school she started referring to herself as a
started referring to herself as a
started referring to herself as a resource kid a special-needs kid one
resource kid a special-needs kid one
resource kid a special-needs kid one night at dinner during her first week of
night at dinner during her first week of
night at dinner during her first week of high school she turned to me and she
high school she turned to me and she
high school she turned to me and she asked mom that’s a resource kid and why
asked mom that’s a resource kid and why
asked mom that’s a resource kid and why I’m in the resource room it kind of
I’m in the resource room it kind of
I’m in the resource room it kind of sucked a lot of joy than the whole idea
sucked a lot of joy than the whole idea
sucked a lot of joy than the whole idea of going to high school for her
of going to high school for her
of going to high school for her she was baffled by the idea of why she
she was baffled by the idea of why she
she was baffled by the idea of why she was in the resource room when she sees
was in the resource room when she sees
was in the resource room when she sees all people as people and she didn’t
all people as people and she didn’t
all people as people and she didn’t understand why she was separated from
understand why she was separated from
understand why she was separated from her peers or her equals thankfully
her peers or her equals thankfully
her peers or her equals thankfully together with her school team we work
together with her school team we work
together with her school team we work together to come up with a plan that was
together to come up with a plan that was
together to come up with a plan that was person centered around Maddie’s
person centered around Maddie’s
person centered around Maddie’s strengths and we were able to tap into
strengths and we were able to tap into
strengths and we were able to tap into all the options of resources at the
all the options of resources at the
all the options of resources at the school in order to make high school a
school in order to make high school a
school in order to make high school a meaningful experience I actually see
meaningful experience I actually see
meaningful experience I actually see Maddie’s view of the world where
Maddie’s view of the world where
Maddie’s view of the world where everyone is equal in her eyes as one of
everyone is equal in her eyes as one of
everyone is equal in her eyes as one of her ways of contributing to society she
her ways of contributing to society she
her ways of contributing to society she will give love kindness caring and
will give love kindness caring and
will give love kindness caring and compassion to everyone without judgment
compassion to everyone without judgment
compassion to everyone without judgment she sees everyone as an equal she will
she sees everyone as an equal she will
she sees everyone as an equal she will ask for anybody’s help at the grocery
ask for anybody’s help at the grocery
ask for anybody’s help at the grocery store if she needs help wing her bananas
store if she needs help wing her bananas
store if she needs help wing her bananas she will ask you unfortunately while
she will ask you unfortunately while
she will ask you unfortunately while she’s getting help wing those bananas
she’s getting help wing those bananas
she’s getting help wing those bananas sometimes a long line will form behind
sometimes a long line will form behind
sometimes a long line will form behind her and people start to become impatient
her and people start to become impatient
her and people start to become impatient because he can’t see her disability last
because he can’t see her disability last
because he can’t see her disability last month Maddie and I went skiing together
month Maddie and I went skiing together
month Maddie and I went skiing together she decided to take her own route down
she decided to take her own route down
she decided to take her own route down the mountain so this of course had me
the mountain so this of course had me
the mountain so this of course had me skiing ahead of her instead of behind
skiing ahead of her instead of behind
skiing ahead of her instead of behind her as I usually do and her route had
her as I usually do and her route had
her as I usually do and her route had her going through piles and piles of
her going through piles and piles of
her going through piles and piles of powder which she hates so she did a
powder which she hates so she did a
powder which she hates so she did a couple of turns and she was down on her
couple of turns and she was down on her
couple of turns and she was down on her but I’m farther down the hill so I take
but I’m farther down the hill so I take
but I’m farther down the hill so I take off my skis and start trekking up and as
off my skis and start trekking up and as
off my skis and start trekking up and as she’s sitting there she just starts
she’s sitting there she just starts
she’s sitting there she just starts calling for help from whoever comes by
calling for help from whoever comes by
calling for help from whoever comes by the next person down the mountain is
the next person down the mountain is
the next person down the mountain is going to be the person to help her she
going to be the person to help her she
going to be the person to help her she doesn’t discriminate and why should she
doesn’t discriminate and why should she
doesn’t discriminate and why should she if it was your child who needed help and
if it was your child who needed help and
if it was your child who needed help and I was the next person down the mountain
I was the next person down the mountain
I was the next person down the mountain wouldn’t you want or even expect me to
wouldn’t you want or even expect me to
wouldn’t you want or even expect me to help them
help them
help them does the disability even matter at what
does the disability even matter at what
does the disability even matter at what point do we decide to
point do we decide to
point do we decide to turn away from someone who’s asking for
turn away from someone who’s asking for
turn away from someone who’s asking for our help the disabilities shouldn’t
our help the disabilities shouldn’t
our help the disabilities shouldn’t matter what if we all had to wear labels
matter what if we all had to wear labels
matter what if we all had to wear labels around our necks
around our necks
around our necks to show to the world what our challenges
to show to the world what our challenges
to show to the world what our challenges are if my daughter had to wear labels
are if my daughter had to wear labels
are if my daughter had to wear labels they would say autism cerebral palsy
osteopenia scoliosis and for the cherry
osteopenia scoliosis and for the cherry on top anxiety my daughter doesn’t wear
on top anxiety my daughter doesn’t wear
on top anxiety my daughter doesn’t wear labels on her neck she wears her heart
labels on her neck she wears her heart
labels on her neck she wears her heart on her sleeve
on her sleeve
on her sleeve she is whole hearted she is the most
she is whole hearted she is the most
she is whole hearted she is the most non-judgmental loving caring person I
non-judgmental loving caring person I
non-judgmental loving caring person I know her smile lights a room and if
know her smile lights a room and if
know her smile lights a room and if you’ve ever walked along the better
you’ve ever walked along the better
you’ve ever walked along the better trail you’ve probably heard her say
trail you’ve probably heard her say
trail you’ve probably heard her say hello especially if you have a dog
hello especially if you have a dog
hello especially if you have a dog walking with you she and because she’s
walking with you she and because she’s
walking with you she and because she’s non-judgmental every dog is a cute dog
she is she’s the better trail dog
she is she’s the better trail dog ambassador I actually think when she
ambassador I actually think when she
ambassador I actually think when she says oh that’s a cute dog what she
says oh that’s a cute dog what she
says oh that’s a cute dog what she actually means is that’s a dog I could
actually means is that’s a dog I could
actually means is that’s a dog I could love I’ll never forget the day we were
love I’ll never forget the day we were
love I’ll never forget the day we were at Sunny Hill waiting for one of
at Sunny Hill waiting for one of
at Sunny Hill waiting for one of Maddie’s diagnoses my palms were
Maddie’s diagnoses my palms were
Maddie’s diagnoses my palms were sweating my stomach was doing flips and
sweating my stomach was doing flips and
sweating my stomach was doing flips and when the doctor entered the room the
when the doctor entered the room the
when the doctor entered the room the smell of antibacterial soap wafted
smell of antibacterial soap wafted
smell of antibacterial soap wafted through the air he sat down and he told
through the air he sat down and he told
through the air he sat down and he told us that Maddie has autism of the many
us that Maddie has autism of the many
us that Maddie has autism of the many things he said that day that were tough
things he said that day that were tough
things he said that day that were tough to hear one of the things that resonated
to hear one of the things that resonated
to hear one of the things that resonated with me and has proven to be true is the
with me and has proven to be true is the
with me and has proven to be true is the fact that Maddie will learn about the
fact that Maddie will learn about the
fact that Maddie will learn about the social world through hard knocks nobody
social world through hard knocks nobody
social world through hard knocks nobody wants to hear that their child that hard
wants to hear that their child that hard
wants to hear that their child that hard knocks are inevitable for their child
knocks are inevitable for their child
knocks are inevitable for their child but he was right Maddie has learned
but he was right Maddie has learned
but he was right Maddie has learned about the social world through
about the social world through
about the social world through until nudging from her support network
until nudging from her support network
until nudging from her support network to hard knocks from her schoolmates we
to hard knocks from her schoolmates we
to hard knocks from her schoolmates we as her support network have learned
as her support network have learned
as her support network have learned patience oh so much patience and
patience oh so much patience and
patience oh so much patience and perseverance her schoolmates have
perseverance her schoolmates have
perseverance her schoolmates have learned to accept and include people
learned to accept and include people
learned to accept and include people that are different than them the social
that are different than them the social
that are different than them the social world is where we need to be careful
world is where we need to be careful
world is where we need to be careful that Maddie’s not taken advantage of
that Maddie’s not taken advantage of
that Maddie’s not taken advantage of because she finds navigating social cues
because she finds navigating social cues
because she finds navigating social cues and social norms a challenge we have to
and social norms a challenge we have to
and social norms a challenge we have to put supports in place to make sure that
put supports in place to make sure that
put supports in place to make sure that she’s safe and yet it feels freedom it’s
she’s safe and yet it feels freedom it’s
she’s safe and yet it feels freedom it’s a delicate balance to ensure that she
a delicate balance to ensure that she
a delicate balance to ensure that she feels freedom without the constraints of
feels freedom without the constraints of
feels freedom without the constraints of too many protections like any teenager
too many protections like any teenager
too many protections like any teenager she wants to go be free from a parent or
she wants to go be free from a parent or
she wants to go be free from a parent or support person to go for tea with a
support person to go for tea with a
support person to go for tea with a friend so what we do is she and her
friend so what we do is she and her
friend so what we do is she and her friend leave our house and they walk to
friend leave our house and they walk to
friend leave our house and they walk to the coffee shop their route and then we
the coffee shop their route and then we
the coffee shop their route and then we walk to the coffee shop our route we
walk to the coffee shop our route we
walk to the coffee shop our route we meet there we check in we talked to the
meet there we check in we talked to the
meet there we check in we talked to the staff let me say hey Maddie Sarah she’s
staff let me say hey Maddie Sarah she’s
staff let me say hey Maddie Sarah she’s with their French they don’t have some
with their French they don’t have some
with their French they don’t have some tea and then we go off and we do
tea and then we go off and we do
tea and then we go off and we do something really exciting like grocery
something really exciting like grocery
something really exciting like grocery shopping and then we come back we check
shopping and then we come back we check
shopping and then we come back we check in Maddy goes her route home we go our
in Maddy goes her route home we go our
in Maddy goes her route home we go our route home this is the fine balance of a
route home this is the fine balance of a
route home this is the fine balance of a village raising a child it takes some
village raising a child it takes some
village raising a child it takes some extra work we work with our community to
extra work we work with our community to
extra work we work with our community to to put those supports in place so that
to put those supports in place so that
to put those supports in place so that Maddy feels independence it takes some
Maddy feels independence it takes some
Maddy feels independence it takes some extra effort but the smile on her face
extra effort but the smile on her face
extra effort but the smile on her face from having those social interactions
from having those social interactions
from having those social interactions makes it worth it she belongs
makes it worth it she belongs
makes it worth it she belongs she is included Maddy is ultimately
she is included Maddy is ultimately
she is included Maddy is ultimately trusting and naive which makes her
trusting and naive which makes her
trusting and naive which makes her vulnerable yet it is her vulnerability
vulnerable yet it is her vulnerability
vulnerable yet it is her vulnerability that makes her beautiful as brené Brown
that makes her beautiful as brené Brown
that makes her beautiful as brené Brown said in her TED talk on vulnerability
said in her TED talk on vulnerability
said in her TED talk on vulnerability vulnerability is the willingness to do
vulnerability is the willingness to do
vulnerability is the willingness to do something when there are no guarantees
something when there are no guarantees
something when there are no guarantees he does this on a daily basis she is the
he does this on a daily basis she is the
he does this on a daily basis she is the first say hello on the Vetter trail
first say hello on the Vetter trail
first say hello on the Vetter trail she’s the first to say I love you at
she’s the first to say I love you at
she’s the first to say I love you at random points during the day and she’s
random points during the day and she’s
random points during the day and she’s the first to say I don’t understand
the first to say I don’t understand
the first to say I don’t understand having a community that supports and
having a community that supports and
having a community that supports and understands her gives her courage to
understands her gives her courage to
understands her gives her courage to take risks to do the things that she
take risks to do the things that she
take risks to do the things that she needs to do and to learn the things that
needs to do and to learn the things that
needs to do and to learn the things that she needs to learn often when I’m out
she needs to learn often when I’m out
she needs to learn often when I’m out with Maddie I noticed that people with
with Maddie I noticed that people with
with Maddie I noticed that people with obvious disabilities are often looked
obvious disabilities are often looked
obvious disabilities are often looked past as if they were invisible
past as if they were invisible
past as if they were invisible and I wonder why inside in truth we are
and I wonder why inside in truth we are
and I wonder why inside in truth we are all just one accident one chromosome or
all just one accident one chromosome or
all just one accident one chromosome or one unfortunate event away from being a
one unfortunate event away from being a
one unfortunate event away from being a person with special needs ourselves no
person with special needs ourselves no
person with special needs ourselves no one wants to be invisible there is
one wants to be invisible there is
one wants to be invisible there is nothing special about the need to be
nothing special about the need to be
nothing special about the need to be seen as human and worthy of caring we
seen as human and worthy of caring we
seen as human and worthy of caring we are pretty considered of the needs of
are pretty considered of the needs of
are pretty considered of the needs of others in our community we have
others in our community we have
others in our community we have designated parking for pute for new
designated parking for pute for new
designated parking for pute for new parents veterans and people with
parents veterans and people with
parents veterans and people with disabilities we have points of access
disabilities we have points of access
disabilities we have points of access into buildings ramps and elevators and
into buildings ramps and elevators and
into buildings ramps and elevators and once inside we have designated seating
once inside we have designated seating
once inside we have designated seating but these are for the disabilities that
but these are for the disabilities that
but these are for the disabilities that are easy to see for people with an
are easy to see for people with an
are easy to see for people with an invisible disability there are points of
invisible disability there are points of
invisible disability there are points of access into social situations as I know
access into social situations as I know
access into social situations as I know all too well
all too well
all too well there is no designated access for
there is no designated access for
there is no designated access for someone like Maddie to enter into a
someone like Maddie to enter into a
someone like Maddie to enter into a conversation with a group of teenagers
regardless of what intolerance is going
regardless of what intolerance is going on in the rest of the world we have
on in the rest of the world we have
on in the rest of the world we have control over the open mindedness we
control over the open mindedness we
control over the open mindedness we teach our children the acceptance we
teach our children the acceptance we
teach our children the acceptance we show in our communities and the
show in our communities and the
show in our communities and the inclusive society we build as a result
inclusive society we build as a result
inclusive society we build as a result of those two things
everything we do has impact on others
everything we do has impact on others what if we all acted like young children
what if we all acted like young children
what if we all acted like young children where everyone was a friend and an equal
where everyone was a friend and an equal
where everyone was a friend and an equal we wouldn’t even have to try to be an
we wouldn’t even have to try to be an
we wouldn’t even have to try to be an inclusive community
inclusive community
inclusive community it would just be natural instinct my
it would just be natural instinct my
it would just be natural instinct my oldest daughter taught me this when she
oldest daughter taught me this when she
oldest daughter taught me this when she was in grade two she came home from
was in grade two she came home from
was in grade two she came home from school one day and she said mom guess
school one day and she said mom guess
school one day and she said mom guess what of course being the very attentive
what of course being the very attentive
what of course being the very attentive parent I responded with what she said
parent I responded with what she said
parent I responded with what she said did you know that jasmine has brown skin
did you know that jasmine has brown skin
did you know that jasmine has brown skin being the attentive parent again I said
being the attentive parent again I said
being the attentive parent again I said well how did you discover that she said
well how did you discover that she said
well how did you discover that she said well today we were doing art they were
well today we were doing art they were
well today we were doing art they were sitting together we were doing a
sitting together we were doing a
sitting together we were doing a self-portrait and I was a little bit
self-portrait and I was a little bit
self-portrait and I was a little bit ahead so I finished with my crayon so I
ahead so I finished with my crayon so I
ahead so I finished with my crayon so I slid it over to Jasmine I said here you
slid it over to Jasmine I said here you
slid it over to Jasmine I said here you go and she looked at me and she said
go and she looked at me and she said
go and she looked at me and she said what are you doing I said it’s crayon
what are you doing I said it’s crayon
what are you doing I said it’s crayon for you for your portrait she said
for you for your portrait she said
for you for your portrait she said that’s not the color I need I need a
that’s not the color I need I need a
that’s not the color I need I need a brown crayon I have brown skin I never
brown crayon I have brown skin I never
brown crayon I have brown skin I never knew she had brown skin all I ever saw
knew she had brown skin all I ever saw
knew she had brown skin all I ever saw was a person wouldn’t it be great if all
was a person wouldn’t it be great if all
was a person wouldn’t it be great if all we ever saw was the person
”
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