It has been a while since my last post. I have been extremely busy this week first preparing for the departure of the love of my life for her beloved Mexico. Then I have been engrossed in a project called Journey, a summer camp for children grieving the loss of a loved one. While I am not ready to do an extensive post on my experiences at the camp, I want to share something with you that I read on Alicia Britt Chole’s blog at ConversantLife.com in light of what I’ve experienced.
In her post, Alicia tells the story of how her son made friends with a deaf boy while at a kiddie coaster ride. Her son, who has Asperger’s Syndrome, initiated contact with the deaf boy and his mother by waving his hand at them and telling them about his own special needs. This immediately created a bond between the boys and the mothers. The deaf boy’s mother knew then that these strangers meant well in their interaction. Afterwards, a five minute friendship was struck just before the deaf boy and his mother took their turn for the ride.
These past three days I have been working with children who have special needs: the need to grieve. So many of us forget that we need to allow time to grieve the parting of a loved one, let alone remembering to let the children grieve. Other times, we simply do not know how to help the child grieve. I know that I am at a loss sometimes as to how to grieve properly due to lack of practice. I am blessed to have both sets of my grandparents, my parents and all of my aunts, uncles and cousins alive. Here at this camp, there were people who knew how to grieve and could help the children in their distress.
Grieving children frewuently exhibit strange behavior because they have not properly dealt with the feelings of grief in their hearts much like a children with a physical or mental defect will exhibit strange behaviors and proclivities. Just like Alicia’s child or the deaf boy, we must recognize the special need that they have and then treat them with mercy and understanding. Then, we can give them tools to be a success at life like hearing aids for the deaf boy, special treatments for the autistic or even a grief camp.
Do you know anyone with a special needs child? What have you learned from those children?
