Susan's Blog

Friday, May 20, 2011

Special Olympics: A Paean to Perfection

Special Olympics is not perfect, but it never claimed to be.  In fact, the beauty of SO is that it began without a plan, just an idea in one mom’s backyard.  Aimed at people who also were thought to be far from perfect, SO has taught me that the only place we find perfection is in love, acceptance, and doing our best.  Click on the link and you will feel it, too.

Nat wins the gold in the 25 meter relay

posted at 4:08 pm 9 comments

9 comments

Way to go Nat! My boys turn 8 this year and will just be starting SO – very exciting!

— added by Suzette on Friday, May 20, 2011 at 5:34 pm

Last year was the first year the non-“self contained” students could take part in SO. NOBODY told us. He goes on Wednesday with his class… b/c his special ed Teacher loves taking them and they’ve been practising btwn the rain drops.

Can’t wait.

— added by farmwifetwo on Friday, May 20, 2011 at 7:46 pm

@Suzette: yippee!! @FW2: so glad to hear!

— added by Susan Senator on Friday, May 20, 2011 at 8:04 pm

Bravo to Nat! J is eight this year, and if I get brave enough, we may try the equestrienne part of SO. He hates participating in sports almost as much as I hate watching them, so we’ll see. So happy for you and Nat that this has played such a big, and positive, part of your lives!

— added by kim mccafferty on Monday, May 23, 2011 at 10:48 am

You will enjoy watching SO sports, guaranteed. I hate sports, too, but SO sports are a whole different thing.

— added by Susan Senator on Monday, May 23, 2011 at 11:04 am

IMPORTANT****Please, everyone remember: it’s up to us, WE make SO work – donations, volunteering…

— added by vmgillen on Monday, May 23, 2011 at 1:25 pm

If there is one thing I regret, It’s not getting my son involved in this. I really didn’t know about it when Matthew was younger. When he started attending the local elementary school he enjoyed both basketball and baseball (he was pretty good at both). Unfortunately, I don’t believe he ever played on the team at school or at recess when the other children were playing. He was too self-conscious and wasn’t invited by the other boys to play. When he was to start 6th grade, the school he would have attended (public school) was very much into SO and I was excited about his attending SO for the first time. But, he transferred to a private tuition-based autism school where they don’t do SO.

Everyone that I know involved with SO raves about it. The one good thing is that the school he is at now has some kind of baseball and kickball team and he does enjoy that. (He comes in after playing filthy dirty, but that’s okay).

— added by Sharon Jones on Thursday, May 26, 2011 at 2:18 pm

I forgot to say CONGRATS to you Nat, and I must say you get more handsome every day! SJ

— added by Sharon Jones on Thursday, May 26, 2011 at 2:20 pm

Congratulations Nat! What an awesome guy!

— added by tina on Thursday, July 7, 2011 at 12:40 am