Intense learning
Author :
Sangitha
Blog :Life and Times in Bangalore
Date: 7/11/2012 3:54:35 AM
It has been a pretty hectic couple of weeks in terms of learning. The classes have started and we’re a good mix of parents and experienced teachers. The courage of our teachers in their life journeys is only matched by the quiet commitment of all the people in the room to make that much more of a difference and the knowledge/structured work load of the course. It is a very inspiring, learning, positive environment.
I can’t tell you how happy I am to be here to learn this much. Also can’t explain the feeling of loving where this direction is going – for the first time, I know what they mean when they say ‘When you love what you do, you don’t have to work a single day of your life!’ I knew living beings was what I should have worked with versus spreadsheets…the people rocked, the experience of working in a corporate setting outside India will help a lot in dealing with people but working with children with different patterns of development is what it seems all life experience has prepared me for. Today.
Did you know that the autism ‘epidemic’ is now at 1:88 children in the general population? And that 1 in 54 boys are affected? I shall mostly be working with boys and hope to take pre-verbal children to verbal and upgrade skills for those who are a bit better off. This is also something I can do from home, one-on-one – a good intersection of the need for such services with my interest/personal satisfaction, some earning with quality of life for the family. I do want to work in a school though – there’s space for all levels of involvement and a burning need for people interested in being understanding teachers. I hope I am able to sustain this level of enthusiasm.
The first few book assignments are out – my first one is called ‘There’s a Boy in Here’ by a mother/son combination: the son had a breakthrough, is high functioning and independent, the books is set in the late 20th century when professionals were just beginning to use the word ‘autism’, the cause was thought to be ‘refrigerator parenting’ – cold, unemotional parents, that no one could help the child was bad enough, that parents were blamed was even worse. Finished the book the day I got it – husband was sick and in bed early, kids asleep and the book unputdownable. Went overboard with the synopsis – they wanted a 2 – 3 pager (found out later) including chapter wise summaries. I only had some 15 pages. 
Pruning it will be cutting off some limbs and toes, so it is being put off!
Have a trip and a wedding coming up over the weekend. Get to meet sister visiting India for the first time since she landed….it will be fun! And I get to start working with children as part of my training from next week. It promises to be an energizing month ahead. Wow, it feels good to feel so alive! What was I doing all these years?! And why?!
Have a fantastic week, you guys! Byelamos!
